paan3盼
Jyutpingpaan3
Yalepaan
Definition
To hope for, look forward to, or yearn for with all one's heart.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This word carries a sense of deep, heartfelt anticipation or longing rather than just a casual hope. It is often used in formal writing or slightly poetic contexts, though it remains perfectly understandable in speech. When used in daily life, it is almost always paired with 望 to form the compound 盼望.
Examples
I really yearn to go traveling soon.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 期望 or 希望, but 盼 implies a stronger emotional weight of waiting for something to happen. It is not typically used for simple, everyday desires like wanting a cup of coffee.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
