hung2 fong1恐慌
Jyutpinghung2 fong1
Yalehúng fōng
Definition
Panic; to be in a state of fear and loss of control, not knowing what to do.
neutralemotion
How it's used
While 恐慌 is a standard term for panic, it often carries a more serious or collective tone compared to everyday expressions like 驚. It is frequently used in news reports or formal discussions regarding economic or social instability. In casual speech, people are more likely to use 驚到震 or 慌張 to describe individual anxiety.
Examples
The stock market crashed, making the investors panic.
Why are you panicking so much? It's just a power outage.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 恐慌 as a verb, but it functions primarily as a noun or an adjective in Cantonese. To express the act of panicking, it is more natural to use phrases like 覺得恐慌 or 陷入恐慌.
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.
