daai6 geng1 sat1 sik1大驚失色大惊失色

Jyutpingdaai6 geng1 sat1 sik1

Yaledaaih gēng sāt sīk

Definition

To turn pale with fright; to be so scared that one's face loses color.

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How it's used

This is a formal idiom that describes a sudden, intense reaction to shock or fear. While it is perfectly understandable in spoken Cantonese, it carries a literary weight that makes it sound quite dramatic or serious. It is more common to hear it used in news reports or storytelling than in casual, everyday conversation.

Examples

keoi5佢teng1聽dou3到go3個siu1消sik1息zi1之hau6後daai6大ging1驚sat1失sik1色。

He turned pale with fright after hearing the news.

gin3見dou2到gam3咁daai6大fo2火，bin1邊go3個m4唔wui2會daai6大ging1驚sat1失sik1色aa4呀？

Seeing such a big fire, who wouldn't turn pale with fright?

Common phrases

haak3嚇dou3到daai6大ging1驚sat1失sik1色

scared to the point of turning pale

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe minor surprises or mild nervousness. It specifically implies a visceral, visible reaction where the person loses their composure and color due to extreme alarm.