wan4 paak3 m4 cai4魂魄唔齊魂魄唔齐
Jyutpingwan4 paak3 m4 cai4
Yalewàhn paak m̀h chàih
Definition
Scared out of one's wits; very frightened or panicky.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom literally refers to the scattering of one's soul and spirit, reflecting traditional beliefs about the human psyche. It is used to describe someone who is visibly shaken, panicked, or unable to think clearly due to extreme fear or shock. Unlike simply feeling scared, this phrase emphasizes a state of being completely disoriented or mentally absent.
Examples
He was so scared by the ghost that he lost his wits.
Related words
Common phrases
scared out of one's wits
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is merely absent-minded or forgetful, as it specifically requires a trigger of intense fear or a sudden, shocking event.
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.
