oi1哀
Jyutpingoi1
Yaleōi
Definition
Grief, sorrow, or sadness.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This character is primarily a bound morpheme used in formal or literary compound words rather than as a standalone verb or adjective in daily speech. It conveys a deep, heavy sense of sorrow or lamentation that goes beyond simple sadness. You will frequently encounter it in written news reports or formal literature to describe tragic events or profound emotional states.
Examples
He felt very sorrowful after hearing the news.
Why do you look so melancholy?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a standalone adjective to mean sad, but it sounds unnatural in casual conversation. Use 唔開心 or 傷心 instead for everyday situations.
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.
