sau2 tang4 goek3 zan3手滕腳震手滕脚震
Jyutpingsau2 tang4 goek3 zan3
Yalesáu tàhng geuk jan
Definition
To have shaky hands and legs from panic, fear, or nervousness.
colloquialbodyemotion
How it's used
Describes a physical manifestation of extreme anxiety or fear, often used to tease someone who is overreacting to a stressful situation. It functions as an adjective phrase that captures the involuntary trembling that occurs under pressure. While it sounds vivid and dramatic, it is a very common way to describe being flustered or losing one's composure.
Examples
He was so nervous giving his first speech on stage that his hands and legs were shaking.
Related words
Common phrases
so nervous that one is shaking
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being cold, as it specifically refers to physical shaking caused by psychological stress or nervousness rather than low temperatures.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
