taan2 sing4坦承
Jyutpingtaan2 sing4
Yaletáan sìhng
Definition
To admit, acknowledge, or confess something frankly.
neutralcommunicationemotion
How it's used
This term carries a sense of moral weight and sincerity, often used when someone overcomes their hesitation to speak the truth. It is more formal than simply saying 認 or 講出嚟, implying a level of gravity or emotional vulnerability in the confession.
Examples
He finally admitted that he did something wrong.
Are you willing to frankly face your own shortcomings yet?
Related words
Common phrases
to confess everything
to frankly admit a mistake
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 承認, which is a neutral way to admit or acknowledge a fact. 坦承 specifically highlights the honesty and frankness of the admission, making it inappropriate for simple, everyday acknowledgments like admitting you have a brother or that you are tired.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
