san1 syun1辛酸
Jyutpingsan1 syun1
Yalesān syūn
Definition
Sad, bitter, and miserable.
neutralemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional weight of hardship or suffering endured over a long period rather than a momentary feeling of sadness. It often appears in narratives describing someone's life journey or professional struggle. Using this word implies a level of empathy for the person's past endurance.
Examples
When he talks about that bitter history of his, it is truly miserable.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple physical tastes or minor inconveniences, as it carries a heavy, almost tragic connotation of life struggles.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
