aat3 ging1壓驚压惊
Jyutpingaat3 ging1
Yaleaat gīng
Definition
To soothe, comfort, or calm down someone who has been frightened.
colloquialemotionhealth
How it's used
Focuses on the physical or emotional aftermath of a sudden shock, such as a minor accident or a frightening experience. It is almost always paired with the act of consuming something, like tea, water, or sweets, as the physical act of swallowing is believed to help settle the nerves. The structure often includes the aspect marker 下 to indicate a brief or temporary action.
Examples
You were just startled, drink a cup of warm water to calm your nerves first.
Related words
Common phrases
drink some tea to calm down
eat a candy to calm down
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe long term anxiety or clinical fear. It is strictly for the immediate, acute reaction to a sudden fright.
Grammar color guide
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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.
