ngai6毅
Jyutpingngai6
Yalengaih
Definition
Perseverance, determination, and willpower.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in formal or compound words rather than as a standalone verb or adjective in daily speech. It carries a sense of moral fortitude and long term commitment that goes beyond simple stubbornness. When describing someone who keeps going through hardship, native speakers often prefer phrases like 捱得住 or 堅持到底.
Examples
He has great perseverance in his work and never gives up no matter how hard it is.
Do you have the determination to persist until the end?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not attempt to use this as a standalone adjective to describe a person, as it will sound unnatural or overly literary. Always pair it with other characters like 力 to form a noun or compound concept.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
