daa2 dat6 ngat6打突兀
Jyutpingdaa2 dat6 ngat6
Yaledá daht ngaht
Definition
To be startled or taken aback; to stare blankly in shock.
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
Describes a momentary state of being startled or caught off guard, often resulting in a blank or frozen expression. It captures the physical reaction of stopping in one's tracks when faced with something unexpected. Unlike simply being scared, it emphasizes the sudden mental paralysis that follows a surprise.
Examples
He suddenly rushed in and scared me, leaving me stunned.
Related words
Common phrases
startled into a state of shock
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 嚇親, which is a more general term for being frightened. 打突兀 specifically highlights the visual aspect of being stunned or staring blankly, rather than just the feeling of fear.
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.
