sik1 bit6惜別惜别
Jyutpingsik1 bit6
Yalesīk biht
Definition
To say goodbye reluctantly, with a heavy heart, or feeling reluctant to part.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional weight of parting rather than the physical act of leaving. It is often used in formal contexts like ceremonies or written announcements, though it can describe deep personal feelings of reluctance to separate. Unlike the simple act of saying goodbye, it implies a lingering sense of attachment.
Examples
They said a tearful goodbye at the airport, it was a moving scene.
Everyone said their sad goodbyes at graduation, it was really hard to part.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday situations like leaving a friend's house after dinner, as it sounds overly dramatic or literary for routine departures.
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.
