koi3 taan3慨嘆慨叹
Jyutpingkoi3 taan3
Yalekoi taan
Definition
To sigh with regret, sorrow, or emotion.
writtenemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Carries a literary or formal weight that makes it sound slightly more serious than just saying 嘆氣. It is typically used when reflecting on the passage of time, missed opportunities, or the general state of the world rather than expressing simple physical fatigue or boredom. You will often see it used in written journalism or formal speech to describe someone's reaction to a social issue.
Examples
He looked at the old photos and sighed with emotion, saying time passes so quickly.
Why are you always sighing about life like that?
Related words
Common phrases
to sigh about the nature of life
to sigh repeatedly with deep emotion
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical exhaustion or boredom, as it specifically implies a sense of philosophical reflection or emotional regret. For a simple sigh due to being tired or annoyed, use 嘆氣 instead.
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.
