zaak3 zaak3 cing1 sin6嘖嘖稱羡啧啧称羡
Jyutpingzaak3 zaak3 cing1 sin6
Yalejaak jaak chīng sihn
Definition
To click one's tongue in admiration; to praise and admire repeatedly.
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How it's used
This is a formal idiom that carries a literary tone, making it quite distinct from everyday spoken Cantonese. It is typically used in descriptive writing or formal speech rather than casual conversation. Using it in a relaxed setting might sound overly dramatic or pretentious.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is a set idiom that cannot be easily modified or broken up by particles like 咗 or 緊. It functions as a descriptive predicate rather than a standard action verb.
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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).
