koi3慨
Jyutpingkoi3
Yalekoi
Definition
Emotionally stirred or indignant; to sigh with emotion.
- emotionally stirred, excited, or indignant
- to sigh with deep emotion
writtenemotion
How it's used
Functions almost exclusively as a bound morpheme within formal or literary compound words like 憤慨. It conveys a sense of deep emotional agitation or indignation that is rarely expressed in casual daily speech. Using it as a standalone adjective in spoken Cantonese will sound unnatural and overly dramatic.
Examples
Why are you getting so worked up?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for the common colloquial particle 嘅, which is a homophone in many contexts but serves an entirely different grammatical function. Do not attempt to use it as a substitute for the possessive or descriptive particle.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
