lyun2 lyun2 bat1 se2戀戀不捨恋恋不舍
Jyutpinglyun2 lyun2 bat1 se2
Yalelyún lyún bāt sé
Definition
Reluctant to part with; unable to bear leaving or letting go of someone or something.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a strong literary tone, making it sound quite dramatic or poetic in everyday speech. While it describes a deep emotional reluctance to leave, it is often used in writing or when someone wants to emphasize the intensity of their feelings during a farewell. In casual conversation, people are much more likely to use the simpler phrase 唔捨得 to express the same sentiment.
Examples
When it was time to leave, they were so reluctant to part with their cat.
Related words
Common phrases
to be reluctant to part with something or someone
Common mistake
Because this is a four character idiom, learners often mistakenly use it as a verb phrase. It functions as an adjective, so it should be preceded by a particle like 覺得 or used with a prepositional structure like 對...戀戀不捨.
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.
