zan1 dai3真諦真谛
Jyutpingzan1 dai3
Yalejān dai
Definition
True meaning, essence, or core truth of something.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or philosophical contexts when discussing abstract concepts like love, life, or art. It carries a sense of profound discovery or enlightenment that goes beyond simple dictionary definitions. You will rarely hear it in casual, everyday conversation about mundane objects or tasks.
Examples
Have you finally understood the true meaning of life?
He is working hard to grasp the true essence of this job.
Related words
Common phrases
to grasp the true essence
the true meaning of life
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe the literal meaning of a word or sentence, as it is reserved for deeper, conceptual truths. Use 意思 instead for basic definitions.
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.
