sam1 jap1心悒
Jyutpingsam1 jap1
Yalesām yāp
Definition
Grieved, heavy-hearted, or feeling downcast and uneasy.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
Describes a specific type of internal distress that combines anxiety with a sense of stifled sadness or gloom. It is often used when someone is worried about a situation but feels powerless to change it, leading to a heavy feeling in the chest. Unlike general anxiety, it carries a strong emotional weight of being troubled or burdened by circumstances.
Examples
Seeing them so unhappy, I feel really anxious and heavy-hearted too.
Related words
Common phrases
to feel anxious or heavy-hearted
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being physically ill or having chest pain, as the term is strictly for emotional distress. It is also not used for high-energy panic, but rather for a lingering, quiet sense of unease.
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.
