sam1 gon1 ding3心肝椗心肝碇
Jyutpingsam1 gon1 ding3
Yalesām gōn ding
Definition
The apple of one's eye; a person who is deeply loved and treasured.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of deep affection and possessiveness, often used by parents or grandparents to describe a beloved child. It emphasizes that the person is as vital and precious to one's life as one's own internal organs. While it sounds very warm and intimate, it is rarely used in formal or professional settings.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is the apple of my eye, how could I bear to scold him?
The grandson is the apple of his grandmother's eye.
Related words
Common phrases
A common rhyming expression for a beloved sweetheart.
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply saying someone is a good person. It specifically implies a deep, emotional, and often protective bond, so using it for a casual acquaintance or a colleague would sound bizarrely over-familiar.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
