co5 laap6 bat1 on1坐立不安
Jyutpingco5 laap6 bat1 on1
Yalechóh laahp bāt ōn
Definition
Restless, fidgety, and anxious; unable to sit or stand still due to worry or nervousness.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of physical restlessness caused by extreme anxiety or anticipation. It is often used to describe someone who cannot sit still because their mind is preoccupied with a stressful situation. While it is a four-character idiom, it is frequently used in everyday speech to vividly paint a picture of someone's agitated body language.
Examples
He is waiting for the result, pacing back and forth nervously.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone who is physically unable to sit or stand, but it specifically refers to the internal state of anxiety manifesting as physical fidgeting. It is not used for simple boredom or physical discomfort like having a sore back.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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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.
