kwan3 taai3窘態窘态
Jyutpingkwan3 taai3
Yalekwan taai
Definition
An embarrassed look, awkward state, or plight.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a specific moment of awkwardness or a clumsy situation rather than the internal feeling of being shy. It often focuses on the external appearance of someone who has lost their composure or dignity in front of others. Use this to describe a scene where someone is caught off guard or looks foolish.
Examples
He fell down on stage, it was really embarrassing.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 尷尬, which refers to the internal feeling of awkwardness or the social tension between people. 窘態 specifically points to the visible, physical manifestation of that awkwardness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
