tang4 gai1騰雞腾鸡
Jyutpingtang4 gai1
Yaletàhng gāi
Definition
Flustered, nervous, or panicking; lacking courage or frightened.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Originating from the image of a chicken fluttering in panic, this term captures a specific kind of jittery, flustered anxiety. It is frequently used to describe someone who loses their composure or starts panicking when faced with a sudden challenge or a daunting person. The reduplicated form 騰晒雞 is very common for emphasizing the intensity of the panic.
Examples
Why are you getting so nervous? Stay calm.
He got all nervous the moment he saw the boss walking over.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general fear or phobia, as it specifically refers to the outward display of nervousness or the act of panicking in the moment. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal or professional writing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
