geng1 ceng1驚青惊青
Jyutpinggeng1 ceng1
Yalegēng chēng
Definition
To be afraid, anxious, or panicky, often unnecessarily or over something not particularly dangerous.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a state of being overly nervous, jumpy, or easily rattled by things that are not actually dangerous. It often carries a slight sense of mockery or teasing, implying the person is overreacting to a minor situation. Use this when someone is acting timid or cowardly in a trivial context.
Examples
You are so scared just by seeing a cockroach, it is embarrassing.
Why are you so worried, he is not going to eat you.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being genuinely terrified or in mortal danger. Using it to describe someone facing a serious threat can sound dismissive or insensitive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
