daai6 geng1 siu2 gwaai3大驚小怪大惊小怪
Jyutpingdaai6 geng1 siu2 gwaai3
Yaledaaih gēng síu gwaai
Definition
To make a fuss about nothing; to be overly surprised by something ordinary.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the performative nature of someone's overreaction rather than the event itself. It implies that the person is being dramatic or childish for reacting strongly to something trivial. It is frequently used in a rhetorical question to challenge someone's emotional intensity.
Examples
It is only raining a little, do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?
Related words
Common phrases
is it necessary to make such a fuss
don't make a mountain out of a molehill
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely surprised or shocked by a major event. It is strictly reserved for situations where the reaction is disproportionate to the actual circumstances.
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.
