sat1 tau4 go1 giu2 ngaan5 leoi6膝頭哥撟眼淚膝头哥挢眼泪
Jyutpingsat1 tau4 go1 giu2 ngaan5 leoi6
Yalesāt tàuh gō gíu ngáahn leuih
Definition
To describe someone who is very sad and filled with deep regrets.
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
This idiom vividly depicts a person sitting with their knees pulled up to their chest, crying in deep remorse or sorrow. It is a highly descriptive, emotive phrase used to emphasize the physical manifestation of internal pain and regret. It is far more evocative than simply saying someone is sad or regretful.
Examples
Thinking back on his past mistakes, he is truly filled with regret and sorrow.
Stop wallowing in regret, the matter is already in the past.
Related words
Common phrases
to be overcome with deep regret and sorrow
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple sadness or disappointment, as it specifically implies a deep, reflective, and often self-reproachful state of mind. It is a literary-leaning idiom that might sound overly dramatic if used in casual, trivial situations.
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.
