wai3畏
Jyutpingwai3
Yalewai
Definition
To fear, dread, or hold in awe and respect.
- to fear; to dread
- to admire; to respect; to hold in awe
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
畏 carries a nuance of being intimidated or feeling a sense of respectful dread, rather than just being scared of a physical threat. It is frequently used in the context of social hierarchy or authority figures. In modern spoken Cantonese, it is often replaced by驚 in casual settings, making 畏 sound slightly more formal or literary.
Examples
I really fear that stern look of his.
Why do you fear him? He is not your boss.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 畏 with 驚, but 畏 implies a deeper sense of awe or intimidation that goes beyond simple fear. Using 畏 for everyday phobias like spiders or heights sounds unnatural and overly dramatic.
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.
