caau1搐
Jyutpingcaau1
Yalechāau
Definition
To twitch, spasm, or convulse.
colloquialhealthbody
How it's used
This term is specifically used to describe involuntary muscle contractions or seizures, often associated with high fevers in children. It carries a sense of urgency and alarm, as it is almost always used in medical or emergency contexts. You will rarely hear it used in a metaphorical sense, unlike some other languages where similar words might describe excitement or agitation.
Examples
He is having a convulsion, call an ambulance quickly!
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general shaking or trembling, but it specifically refers to medical convulsions or seizures. Do not use it to describe someone shivering from cold or fear, as those situations require different verbs.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
