ji1 lyun2依戀依恋
Jyutpingji1 lyun2
Yaleyī lyún
Definition
To feel a deep attachment to someone or something and be reluctant to part with them.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Expresses a deep, emotional reluctance to let go of a person, place, or phase of life. Unlike the common word 掛住 which simply means to miss someone, 依戀 carries a heavier sense of sentimental dependency or an inability to move on. It is frequently used in literary or slightly formal contexts to describe a lingering, bittersweet attachment.
Examples
He is very attached to the house he used to live in.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday speech to describe missing a friend for a few days, as it sounds overly dramatic or poetic. For simple longing, stick to 掛住.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
