ging2 gok3警覺警觉
Jyutpingging2 gok3
Yalegíng gok
Definition
Vigilance, alertness, or the ability to respond to sudden crises.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
警覺 often appears in formal warnings or public service announcements, such as when police advise citizens to be wary of scams. While it functions as a noun, it is most frequently used in the verb phrase 提高警覺 to describe the act of becoming more alert. It implies a state of readiness for potential danger or unexpected events rather than just general awareness.
Examples
Everyone needs to stay vigilant and watch your belongings.
He is very vigilant about his surroundings and can hear even the slightest sound.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 警覺 with 緊張, but 緊張 refers to feeling nervous or anxious, whereas 警覺 is about being alert and watchful.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
