jan4 sam1人心
Jyutpingjan4 sam1
Yaleyàhn sām
Definition
The will or desires of the people; also refers to a person's thoughts or mind.
- public sentiment; the will or desires of the people
- a person's thoughts, mind, or intentions
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Refers to the collective mindset or prevailing attitude of a group, often used in political or social contexts to describe what people generally desire or support. It carries a sense of weight and gravity, suggesting that the sentiment is widespread and significant enough to influence outcomes. Unlike simple opinions, it implies a shared moral or emotional consensus among the public.
Examples
This decision really follows the will of the people.
Related words
Common phrases
what the people desire
people are in a state of panic
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 心思, which refers to an individual's personal thoughts, intentions, or the effort put into a task. Using 人心 to describe a single person's state of mind will sound unnatural or overly formal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
