taan2 tik1忐忑
Jyutpingtaan2 tik1
Yaletáan tīk
Definition
Perturbed, nervous, or uneasy; the state of being anxious and fidgety.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
Describes a specific internal state of anxiety or restlessness, often when waiting for a result or anticipating an uncertain outcome. Unlike general nervousness, it carries a sense of being unable to settle down or focus because of an unsettled heart. It is frequently paired with 不安 to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.
Examples
Thinking about the job interview tomorrow, I feel really nervous.
Related words
Common phrases
fidgety and uneasy
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb, but it functions strictly as an adjective. You must use it with a linking verb like 係 or a state-describing structure to express that someone is feeling this way.
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.
