gan2 zoeng1緊張紧张
Jyutpinggan2 zoeng1
Yalegán jēung
Definition
Nervous, anxious, or tense; also tight, scarce, or critical.
- nervous; anxious; tense
- tight; scarce; in short supply
- critical; urgent; intense
Example
haau2考si3試go2嗰zan6陣ngo5我hou2好gan2緊zoeng1張。
haau2考si3试go2嗰zan6陣ngo5我hou2好gan2紧zoeng1张。
I get nervous during exams.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Expressing nervousness or anxiety often involves pairing this word with intensifiers like 好 or 勁. It is frequently used to describe both personal feelings and the atmosphere of a situation, such as a competitive match or a high stakes negotiation. Unlike Mandarin, where it can also mean tight or short of money, the Cantonese usage focuses almost exclusively on emotional or psychological tension.
Examples
It is almost my turn to go on stage, I am really nervous.
Why are you so nervous? Just relax a bit.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical tightness of an object, such as a rope or a knot, as that would be 緊 or 繃緊 instead.
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.
