caa3 ji6詫異诧异
Jyutpingcaa3 ji6
Yalecha yih
Definition
Surprised, astonished, or amazed.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Although this word appears in written Cantonese, it is often used in formal speech or when describing a slightly more intellectual or detached state of surprise. It carries a nuance of being puzzled or finding something illogical, rather than just a sudden emotional shock. In casual daily life, people are much more likely to use 驚訝 or 覺得好奇怪.
Examples
Everyone was very surprised to see him appear suddenly.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use it as a direct translation for any kind of surprise, but it sounds overly formal or literary in casual conversation. Using it when someone drops a glass or gets a small fright sounds unnatural; it is better reserved for situations where you are mentally trying to process why something happened.
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.
