tan4揗
Jyutpingtan4
Yaletàhn
Definition
To shiver or shake out of fear.
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical manifestation of fear, often describing a visible tremor or a jittery state. It is frequently used in the reduplicated form 揗揗震 to emphasize the intensity of the trembling. While it describes fear, it can also be used in situations where someone is nervous or anxious about an upcoming event.
Examples
Seeing the big dog, he was so scared his hands and legs were shaking.
Related words
Common phrases
shaking with fear from head to toe
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin word 顫, which is a more formal or literary term for trembling. In Cantonese, 揗 is almost exclusively reserved for the context of being scared or nervous, whereas other words like 震 are used for general shaking due to cold or age.
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.
