ding6 ging1定驚定惊
Jyutpingding6 ging1
Yaledihng gīng
Definition
To calm down or soothe oneself after a fright; to settle a feeling of fear.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
This phrase is almost always used in the context of consuming something, usually a drink or a small snack, to recover from a sudden fright. It implies a physical ritual of soothing oneself after an adrenaline spike. You will frequently hear it used with the reduplicated form 定定驚, which makes the action sound more casual and deliberate.
Examples
I'm scared, let me drink some hot tea to calm down first.
You just had a car accident, do you need a glass of water to calm your nerves?
Related words
Common phrases
drink a sip of water to calm down
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general relaxation or resting. It is specifically reserved for the immediate aftermath of a startling or frightening event, not for general stress or anxiety.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
