ji2咦
Jyutpingji2
Yaleyí
Definition
An interjection used to express surprise, astonishment, or sudden realization.
colloquialcommunicationparticle
How it's used
This interjection captures a sudden shift in attention or a mild, immediate surprise. It is frequently used when noticing something out of place or realizing a small discrepancy in one's environment. Unlike the English "wow," it often implies a sense of curiosity or questioning rather than pure amazement.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to express strong shock or intense excitement, as it is relatively light and conversational. It is strictly an exclamation and cannot be used as a verb or noun in a sentence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
