wai4 naan4為難为难
Jyutpingwai4 naan4
Yalewàih nàahn
Definition
Feeling reluctant or put on the spot; unwilling to comply but forced to do so.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Expresses a sense of being trapped between a request and one's own reluctance. It often implies that the speaker is being pressured by someone else to do something they find difficult or disagreeable. Unlike simply saying no, using this word highlights the internal struggle of wanting to maintain a good relationship while being unable or unwilling to comply.
Examples
He asked me for help, and I really feel caught in a bind.
Related words
Common phrases
to feel caught in a bind
don't make things difficult for others
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 難為, which is a verb meaning to intentionally make things difficult for someone else. While 為難 describes the internal feeling of being in a tough spot, 難為 describes the external action of causing that trouble for another person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
