ging1 tou4 haai5 long6驚濤駭浪惊涛骇浪
Jyutpingging1 tou4 haai5 long6
Yalegīng tòuh háaih lohng
Definition
Terrifyingly rough waves, or metaphorically, an extremely difficult and challenging situation.
- terrifyingly rough waves
- figurativean extremely difficult, tempestuous, or challenging situation
neutraldescriptionsother
How it's used
Use this idiom to describe intense, life-altering challenges or turbulent situations rather than actual weather conditions. It carries a dramatic, literary weight that makes it sound quite serious or profound when used in conversation. It is most frequently applied metaphorically to business struggles or personal hardships.
Examples
They went through many terrifying challenges when they started their business.
How do you stay calm when facing the rough storms of life?
Related words
Common phrases
to go through terrifying challenges
to face rough storms
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple bad day or minor inconvenience, as the term implies a level of danger or extreme difficulty that could potentially overwhelm a person or project.
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.
