fu1 tin1 coeng1 dei6呼天搶地呼天抢地
Jyutpingfu1 tin1 coeng1 dei6
Yalefū tīn chēung deih
Definition
To wail and lament in deep anguish; to cry very loudly with dramatic gestures.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom describes an exaggerated, performative display of grief or distress that feels overwhelming to those watching. It often carries a subtle hint of judgment, implying that the person is being overly dramatic or seeking attention rather than just feeling sad. Use it when someone is making a massive scene that seems disproportionate to the actual situation.
Examples
After the breakup, she wailed and carried on so loudly that she scared the neighbors.
Related words
Common phrases
crying in a loud, dramatic, and anguished manner
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is quietly sobbing or genuinely devastated in private. It specifically refers to loud, public, and physical displays of emotion that draw attention from others.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
