daam1 jau1擔憂担忧
Jyutpingdaam1 jau1
Yaledāam yāu
Definition
To worry, feel anxious, or be concerned about something.
neutralemotion
How it's used
While 擔憂 is a valid word, it carries a more formal or literary tone compared to the ubiquitous 擔心. In everyday spoken Cantonese, 擔心 is the standard choice for expressing anxiety or concern. Using 擔憂 in casual conversation can sound slightly dramatic or like you are reading from a news report.
Examples
You don't need to worry so much, everything will go smoothly.
He is always worrying about his family's health, making himself very tired.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 擔憂 in casual settings where 擔心 is far more natural. Additionally, avoid using 擔憂 as a noun; it functions primarily as a verb or an adjective describing a state of mind.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
