hei2 ging3起勁起劲
Jyutpinghei2 ging3
Yalehéi ging
Definition
Energetic, enthusiastic, or full of vigor, with a desire to keep going.
colloquialdescriptionsdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the momentum of an activity, suggesting that the person is caught up in the flow of what they are doing. It is often used to describe someone who starts off with interest and then becomes increasingly absorbed or animated as they continue. It implies a sense of sustained engagement rather than just a momentary burst of energy.
Examples
He talks with such enthusiasm, he doesn't want to stop at all.
Related words
Common phrases
talking with increasing enthusiasm
doing something very energetically
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 興奮, which describes a state of emotional excitement or being thrilled. 起勁 specifically requires an action or activity to be happening, as it describes the intensity or enthusiasm put into that performance.
Grammar color guide
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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).
