ging1 wan4驚魂惊魂
Jyutpingging1 wan4
Yalegīng wàhn
Definition
A state of panic, shock, or severe fright where one is at a loss of what to do.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 驚魂未定, which describes someone who has not yet recovered from a recent shock or fright. It carries a literary or dramatic weight, making it sound more descriptive than simply saying 好驚. You will frequently hear it used to describe someone's facial expression or general state of mind after a sudden, alarming event.
Examples
He just went through a car accident and is still shaken up.
Look at how terrified she looks, what happened?
Related words
Common phrases
still shaken up
Common mistake
Do not use this as a direct synonym for feeling scared in general, such as being afraid of spiders or heights. It specifically refers to the lingering state of shock immediately following a frightening incident.
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.
