sam1 leoi5心裡心里
Jyutpingsam1 leoi5
Yalesām léuih
Definition
In one's mind, heart, or thoughts.
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
Speakers often prefer the more colloquial form 心入面 when expressing thoughts or feelings. While 心裡 is perfectly acceptable, it carries a slightly more reflective or literary tone compared to the everyday usage of 心入面. It is frequently used in contexts involving deep emotions or hidden secrets.
Examples
He is actually very unhappy inside.
Related words
Common phrases
to feel uncomfortable or upset
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage. In spoken Cantonese, 心入面 is the standard way to describe the contents of one's mind, whereas 心裡 can sound slightly formal or written.
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.
