ngai4危
Jyutpingngai4
Yalengàih
Definition
Dangerous, perilous, or carrying a high risk of failure.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
While 危 can stand alone to mean dangerous, it is far more common to use the full compound 危險 in most contexts. Using just 危 often feels more emphatic or slightly literary, similar to how one might use 'perilous' in English. It is frequently paired with 喎 or 㗎 to express a warning or concern about a specific situation.
Examples
This road is very dangerous, walk carefully.
It is really dangerous for him to go that far alone.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the noun 危險, which is the standard way to say 'danger'. Using only 危 as a standalone adjective can sound incomplete or overly dramatic if the context does not clearly support it.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
