lin4 man5憐憫怜悯
Jyutpinglin4 man5
Yalelìhn máhn
Definition
To pity, to take pity on, or to show sympathy to someone.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a formal or literary weight that makes it sound quite heavy in everyday speech. It often implies a sense of moral superiority or distance between the person feeling pity and the one being pitied. For casual situations, people prefer using 同情 or 覺得佢好慘 instead.
Examples
He is so miserable, we should take pity on him.
Why do you pity him? He brought this on himself.
Related words
Common phrases
beg for mercy
Common mistake
Avoid using this word when describing simple sympathy for a friend's minor bad luck, as it can sound condescending or overly dramatic. It is better reserved for situations involving genuine suffering or misfortune.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
