geoi3瞿
Jyutpinggeoi3
Yalegeui
Definition
Startled; staring
colloquialdescriptionsbody
How it's used
This character is primarily used in spoken Cantonese to describe a sudden, involuntary reaction of being startled or a fixed, wide-eyed stare. It often carries a sense of being caught off guard or looking at someone with an intense, perhaps unsettling, gaze. While it appears in written texts, its usage as a verb for staring is very specific to regional speech patterns.
Examples
He was startled for a moment when he saw the ghost shadow.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 瞪, which is more common in Mandarin for staring. In Cantonese, 瞿 is specifically associated with the physical jolt of surprise or a sharp, focused look.
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.
