si2 gou1 hing3使高興使高兴
Jyutpingsi2 gou1 hing3
Yalesí gōu hing
Definition
To please, delight, or make happy.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Using 使高興 sounds quite formal or literary in spoken Cantonese, often appearing in written text or formal speech. In casual conversation, native speakers almost always prefer using 氹 or 令到...開心 instead. Using this phrase in a relaxed setting can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook.
Examples
This gift you bought really makes him happy.
What can I do to make you happy?
Related words
Common phrases
to please someone
Common mistake
Learners often use this because it maps directly to English grammar, but it sounds stiff. Using 氹 is the natural way to express the act of making someone happy or cheering them up.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
