teoi3 suk1退縮退缩
Jyutpingteoi3 suk1
Yaleteui sūk
Definition
To shrink back, flinch, or evade when encountering difficulties or fear.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Often implies a lack of courage or resolve when facing pressure or conflict. It carries a slightly more formal or serious tone than simply saying someone is scared or running away. It is frequently used in motivational contexts or when describing someone failing to stand their ground.
Examples
Facing challenges, you absolutely must not flinch.
Related words
Common phrases
do not flinch
without any hesitation or cowering
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical movement like stepping backward in a line or a crowd, as it specifically refers to a psychological or moral retreat.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
