daam2 zin3 sam1 ging1膽戰心驚胆战心惊

Jyutpingdaam2 zin3 sam1 ging1

Yaledáam jin sām gīng

形容詞

Definition

Trembling with fear; terrified.

colloquialemotiondescriptions

How it's used

This is a formal four character idiom that describes an intense, visceral state of terror. While it is perfectly understandable in speech, it carries a literary weight that makes it sound quite dramatic or exaggerated for everyday minor worries. Use it when you want to emphasize that a situation is genuinely hair raising or deeply unsettling.

Examples

tai2睇jyun4完go2嗰tou3套gwai2鬼pin2片，zan1真hai6係daam2膽zin3戰sam1心geng1驚。

After watching that horror movie, I was truly trembling with fear.

nei5你jat1一go3個jan4人haang4行je6夜lou6路，wui2會m4唔wui2會daam2膽zin3戰sam1心ging1驚aa1呀？

Do you feel trembling with fear when walking alone at night?

Common phrases

daam2膽zin3戰sam1心geng1驚

makes one tremble with fear

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common adjective like 驚, but it is a set idiom that functions more like a descriptive state of being. Avoid using it for simple nervousness or mild anxiety, as it implies a level of fear that makes your heart race or your body shake.