wai3慰
Jyutpingwai3
Yalewai
Definition
To comfort; to make someone feel better.
neutralemotion
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively encountered as a bound morpheme within the compound 安慰. It carries a formal or literary weight that makes it sound unnatural when used as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese. When expressing the act of comforting someone, native speakers rely on the full two-character compound rather than the single character.
Examples
He is very unhappy, go comfort him a bit.
With you here to comfort me, I feel much better.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not attempt to use this as a standalone verb in casual speech, as it will sound like you are reading from a classical text. Always use the full form 安慰 to ensure your meaning is clear and natural.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
