haai5 jan4駭人骇人
Jyutpinghaai5 jan4
Yaleháaih yàhn
Definition
Scaring, frightening, shocking, or appalling.
neutraldescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional impact of an event or sight, often implying a sense of dread or disbelief. It is frequently used in news reports or formal storytelling to describe disasters or crimes, but can also be used colloquially to describe something unexpectedly gruesome or disturbing.
Examples
This news story is truly shocking.
Related words
Common phrases
shocking and appalling
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 嚇人, which is a more common, everyday term for something that startles or scares someone. 駭人 carries a heavier, more serious tone and is less likely to be used for simple pranks or minor frights.
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.
