haai5駭骇
Jyutpinghaai5
Yaleháaih
Definition
Frightening; terrifying; causing fear.
writtendescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Literary in nature, this character is rarely used as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese. It almost exclusively appears as part of compound words like 駭人 or 駭異 to describe something that causes intense fear or shock. It carries a much stronger, more formal tone than common spoken words like 驚 or 嚇人.
Examples
This news story is truly shocking and horrifying.
His appearance is terrifying and scared the children.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a common verb like 驚, but it functions primarily as a descriptive element in formal or written contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversation to describe personal feelings of fear, as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
