cing4 jing4情形
Jyutpingcing4 jing4
Yalechìhng yìhng
Definition
Situation, circumstances, or state of affairs.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Refers to the specific state or set of circumstances surrounding an event. While it can be used in formal writing, it is also perfectly natural in spoken Cantonese to describe the status of a project or a personal predicament. It often implies a snapshot of how things are unfolding at a particular moment.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Given the current situation, we don't know what to do.
What is the situation like on your end?
Related words
Common phrases
under the circumstances
depending on the situation
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 情況. While they are frequently interchangeable, 情況 is more commonly used for general circumstances or a state of affairs, whereas 情形 can lean slightly more towards the visual or observable aspect of a situation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
