hung1洶汹
Jyutpinghung1
Yalehūng
Definition
To be fierce, powerful, or surging in momentum.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This character is primarily used in spoken Cantonese to describe someone who is acting in an intimidating, aggressive, or fierce manner. It often implies a sudden outburst of intensity that makes others feel uncomfortable or threatened. While it can describe a person's behavior, it is rarely used to describe inanimate objects in everyday speech.
Examples
He is really savage when he loses his temper.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 兇, which is the more common character for describing fierce or threatening behavior. While 洶 is sometimes used in informal writing to convey a sense of overwhelming intensity, 兇 is the standard choice for describing a person who is mean or scary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
