zaak6躑踯
Jyutpingzaak6
Yalejaahk
Definition
To hesitate, waver, or be undecided.
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How it's used
This word is almost exclusively used in the reduplicated form 躑躅 to describe the act of pacing back and forth or lingering due to indecision. While it appears in written Cantonese, it is rarely heard in casual spoken conversation, where people would prefer using 猶豫 or 諗嚟諗去. It carries a slightly literary or dramatic tone, often evoking a sense of being stuck in a state of mental or physical conflict.
Examples
Don't hesitate when you make a decision.
He hesitated at the door for a long time.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is quite formal and can sound unnatural if used in everyday small talk. Avoid using it in contexts where you simply mean you are thinking about something, as it specifically implies a physical or emotional state of being unable to move forward.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
