ngaa4 jin1牙煙牙烟
Jyutpingngaa4 jin1
Yalengàh yīn
Definition
Dangerous, precarious, or hair-raising; feeling uneasy when facing a potential danger.
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
Used to describe situations where something is precarious or likely to result in an accident. It carries a sense of vicarious anxiety, where the speaker feels nervous on behalf of someone else who is taking a risk. It is rarely used to describe one's own internal feelings of fear, but rather the external danger of a situation.
Examples
You are driving so fast, it is really hair-raising!
Related words
Common phrases
very dangerous or hair-raising
to feel nervous watching a dangerous situation
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the word 危險, which is a neutral, formal way to say dangerous. 牙煙 is strictly colloquial and implies a specific, visual sense of impending disaster or a 'close call' scenario.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
