ngaa6訝讶
Jyutpingngaa6
Yalengah
Definition
To feel surprised or shocked.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme in the compound 驚訝. It does not function as a standalone adjective in modern spoken Cantonese, where people prefer using 驚奇 or 嚇親 instead. Using it alone sounds archaic or overly literary.
Examples
He was very surprised when he heard the news.
Why are you so surprised?
Related words
Common phrases
surprised
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a verb or adjective on its own, but it is strictly a morpheme. Always pair it with 驚 to form the standard expression.
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.
