fong1 sei2慌死
Jyutpingfong1 sei2
Yalefōng séi
Definition
To worry, or to be excessively anxious about something.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Despite the literal meaning of being worried or scared, this term is almost exclusively used sarcastically to describe someone who is overly eager or anxious to show off or ensure a specific outcome. It functions as a rhetorical device to mock someone for trying too hard to prove a point or gain attention. You will rarely hear it used to express genuine fear or anxiety in a serious context.
Examples
He acts as if he is terrified that people won't know he is rich.
Related words
Common phrases
afraid that people won't know
afraid of not making it in time
Common mistake
Do not use this to express actual worry or fear, as it will sound sarcastic and mocking. If you want to say you are genuinely worried, use 擔心 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
