ling4 lai6凌厲凌厉
Jyutpingling4 lai6
Yalelìhng laih
Definition
Swift, fierce, and aggressive, making it difficult to withstand.
neutraldescriptionspeople
How it's used
Describes a force or presence that is overwhelming and difficult to counter, often used for attacks, gazes, or competitive styles. It carries a sense of sharpness and intensity that commands respect or fear. While it can apply to physical actions, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone's sharp, intimidating, or piercing demeanor.
Examples
Their gaze is so fierce that it scares people.
This boxer's attacks are so swift and fierce, who can withstand them?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical speed alone, as it implies a sense of aggression or power behind the movement. It is not a general word for fast, so do not use it for things like a fast car or a quick runner.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
