jau1 hak1休克
Jyutpingjau1 hak1
Yaleyāu hāk
Definition
Medical shock, a life-threatening condition where vital organs do not receive enough blood flow.
neutralhealth
How it's used
Medical professionals and the general public use this term to describe a life-threatening state of circulatory failure. Unlike the English word shock which can also refer to emotional distress or surprise, this Cantonese term is strictly reserved for physiological collapse. When describing emotional distress, Cantonese speakers prefer terms like 嚇親 or 震驚.
Examples
He went into shock after falling, call an ambulance quickly.
Will the patient go into shock from losing too much blood?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe being emotionally stunned or surprised, as that is a common error for English speakers. It is strictly a medical diagnosis in Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
