wai3 geoi6畏懼畏惧
Jyutpingwai3 geoi6
Yalewai geuih
Definition
To fear or dread; to feel anxious, worried, or tense due to perceived danger, pain, or uncertainty.
writtenemotion
How it's used
While standard in written Chinese, this term sounds quite formal or literary in spoken Cantonese. Most locals prefer using 驚 or 怕 to express fear or dread in daily conversation. Using this word often adds a sense of gravity or psychological weight to the situation being described.
Examples
He is very afraid of facing failure.
Are you afraid of that pitch-black place?
Related words
Common phrases
fearless
Common mistake
Learners often use this word in casual settings where it sounds overly dramatic or stiff. It is better reserved for formal writing, serious discussions, or when describing a deep-seated phobia rather than a simple dislike or minor worry.
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).
