buk1 buk1 seng1卜卜聲卜卜声
Jyutpingbuk1 buk1 seng1
Yalebūk būk sēng
Definition
The sound of heart pounding; thumping sound of a beating heart.
colloquialbodyemotion
How it's used
This is an onomatopoeic expression that specifically captures the rhythmic, thumping sensation of a racing heart. It is almost exclusively used to describe the physical reaction to nervousness, excitement, or fear. You will frequently hear it paired with the verb 跳 to emphasize the intensity of the action.
Examples
My heart started pounding when I saw him walking over.
Related words
Common phrases
heart pounding
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe other types of thumping sounds, such as a hammer hitting a nail or footsteps, as it is strictly reserved for the heartbeat.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
