ngok6愕
Jyutpingngok6
Yalengohk
Definition
Startled, stunned, or alarmed.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily to describe a state of being dazed, stunned, or caught off guard, often implying a temporary loss of reaction. It frequently appears in the reduplicated form 愕愕呆呆 to emphasize a vacant or bewildered expression. Unlike more intense words for fear, this focuses on the cognitive pause caused by surprise.
Examples
He was completely startled when I suddenly appeared.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 驚, which implies active fear or anxiety. 愕 describes the immediate, often blank reaction to an unexpected event rather than the emotional state of being afraid.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
