hung2 geoi6恐懼恐惧
Jyutpinghung2 geoi6
Yalehúng geuih
Definition
Fear, dread, or terror.
neutralemotion
How it's used
While this term is understood in daily conversation, it carries a formal or literary weight that makes it sound quite serious. In casual settings, native speakers are much more likely to use 驚 or 怕 to express the same feeling. Using this word often implies a psychological or clinical depth rather than just a simple reaction to a scary situation.
Examples
Facing the big dog, his heart was full of fear.
Do you have a fear of the dark?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this as a direct translation for being scared, but it is too heavy for everyday situations like being scared of a spider or a movie. Reserve it for deep-seated anxieties or existential dread.
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.
