soeng2 nim6想念

Jyutpingsoeng2 nim6

Yaleséung nihm

動詞Common

Definition

To miss or long to see someone or something in their absence.

colloquialemotionpeople

How it's used

While 想念 exists in written Cantonese, native speakers almost exclusively use 掛住 in daily conversation. Using 想念 in casual settings can sound overly formal or literary, similar to using a textbook term in a relaxed social gathering. It is most commonly used when expressing a deep, lingering sense of longing rather than just a casual feeling of missing someone.

Common phrases

hou2好gwaa3掛zyu6住

miss very much

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use 想念 as a direct translation of miss, but it lacks the natural, emotional warmth of 掛住. Additionally, avoid using 想念 when you simply mean you missed an opportunity or a bus, as that requires the verb 錯過 instead.