hap6溘
Jyutpinghap6
Yalehahp
Definition
Suddenly or unexpectedly; also used to describe freezing cold.
- suddenly; unexpectedly
- freezing cold
writtenweatherdescriptions
How it's used
Primarily functions as an intensifier for coldness or as a literary adverb for suddenness. While it appears in written contexts, it is occasionally used in speech to emphasize a sharp, biting drop in temperature. It carries a more dramatic or formal weight than the common 突然.
Examples
The weather suddenly turned freezing cold, remember to put on an extra layer.
He suddenly disappeared, and everyone was very scared.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 凍 or 寒, but 溘 specifically implies a sudden, piercing quality. It is rarely used in casual conversation compared to the more common 突然 or 凍到震.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
