wong4惶
Jyutpingwong4
Yalewòhng
Definition
To be scared, afraid, nervous, or anxious.
writtenemotion
How it's used
Literary in origin, this character is rarely used in isolation in spoken Cantonese. It almost exclusively appears in formal compound words like 惶恐 or 驚惶. Using it alone in casual conversation will sound unnatural or overly dramatic, as native speakers prefer 驚 or 怕 for everyday fear.
Examples
He felt very anxious when he saw the police.
Why are you so nervous?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word as a direct replacement for 驚 or 怕 in casual settings. It carries a formal or written tone that makes it sound out of place when describing simple, everyday worries.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
