tai2 gin3睇見睇见
Jyutpingtai2 gin3
Yaletái gin
Definition
To see; also used to describe one's feelings after seeing or witnessing a situation.
- to see; to catch sight of
- used to describe what one feels after seeing or witnessing something
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Unlike the simple verb 見到 which focuses on the act of perception, 睇見 often implies a deeper emotional reaction or a specific observation of a state. It is frequently used to introduce a reason for a subsequent feeling or judgment. It carries a slightly more deliberate nuance than just catching sight of something.
Examples
Seeing you suffer like this makes me unhappy too.
Have you seen that sign yet?
Related words
Common phrases
frightening just to look at
heartbreaking to see
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 睇見 with 睇到. While they are interchangeable in many contexts, 睇見 is more commonly used when the focus is on the visual encounter itself, whereas 睇到 can also imply successfully achieving the act of seeing something that was previously hidden or difficult to spot.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
