tung3 sat1痛失
Jyutpingtung3 sat1
Yaletung sāt
Definition
To painfully lose; to suffer a painful loss of someone or something precious.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of emotional weight and regret, typically reserved for significant losses like family members, pets, or once-in-a-lifetime career opportunities. Unlike the neutral word 失去, which simply describes the act of losing something, 痛失 emphasizes the deep psychological pain or grief associated with the loss.
Examples
He painfully lost his beloved dog and has been very unhappy lately.
Do you know why he painfully lost all his opportunities?
Related words
Common phrases
to lose a loved one
to miss a golden opportunity
Common mistake
Avoid using this for trivial items like losing your keys or a pen, as it sounds overly dramatic and unnatural in those contexts.
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.
