sam1 gap1 jyu4 fan4心急如焚
Jyutpingsam1 gap1 jyu4 fan4
Yalesām gāp yùh fàhn
Definition
Extremely anxious and burning with impatience or worry.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a much heavier weight than everyday expressions like 好急 or 擔心. It is typically reserved for extreme, life-altering situations rather than minor inconveniences. Using it in casual conversation can sound overly dramatic or literary, so it is often used in written reports or news to describe intense public concern.
Examples
Seeing that her son hasn't returned yet, she is burning with anxiety.
Why are you so anxious? Just take your time to think it over.
Related words
Common phrases
to make someone burn with anxiety
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard adjective used in daily chat. Because it is a four-character idiom, it sounds very stiff when used to describe common frustrations like missing a bus or waiting for a friend to reply to a message.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
