oi3愛爱
Jyutpingoi3
Yaleoi
Definition
To love, or the feeling of deep affection and care.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Expressing deep affection in Cantonese often relies on the word 鍾意 rather than 愛. While 愛 is used for family or romantic partners, it carries a heavy, serious weight that can sound overly dramatic or literary in casual conversation. Using 鍾意 is the standard way to express liking or loving someone or something in daily life.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 愛 too freely for things they enjoy, such as food or hobbies, where a native speaker would always choose 鍾意. Using 愛 for trivial objects can sound unnatural or like a direct translation from English.
Grammar color guide
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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.
