haak3 can1嚇親吓亲
Jyutpinghaak3 can1
Yalehaak chān
Definition
Scared, frightened, or startled.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This is a resultative verb compound where the second element 親 indicates that the action of scaring has successfully reached or affected the object. It is almost exclusively used to describe a sudden, involuntary reaction to a shock or surprise rather than a prolonged state of fear. When you want to express being scared of something specific, you typically use the structure 嚇親 + [noun].
Examples
You shouted suddenly, you really scared me!
Has he ever been scared when he was little?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 驚, which describes the general emotion of fear or being afraid of something. Use 嚇親 for a sudden, momentary shock, whereas 驚 is for a state of mind or an ongoing feeling.
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.
