tai4 sam1 diu3 daam2提心吊膽提心吊胆
Jyutpingtai4 sam1 diu3 daam2
Yaletàih sām diu dáam
Definition
To be extremely anxious, worried, or on tenterhooks.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes a state of constant anxiety or apprehension where one feels unable to relax. It is frequently used to describe reactions to external threats like bad weather, dangerous neighborhoods, or impending bad news. Unlike simply feeling worried, it implies a physical sensation of being constantly alert or braced for something negative to happen.
Examples
During the typhoon, I was on tenterhooks all night.
Why are you so nervous? He is not going to eat you.
Related words
Common phrases
always on tenterhooks
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective like 驚, but it specifically describes a prolonged state of suspense or unease rather than a sudden feeling of fear.
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.
