zaat3 seng2扎醒
Jyutpingzaat3 seng2
Yalejaat séng
Definition
To wake up suddenly from sleep.
colloquialdaily actionshealth
How it's used
Focuses on the abruptness of waking up, often implying a startle or an interruption of deep sleep. It is frequently used when describing nightmares or being disturbed by loud noises, emphasizing the sudden transition from unconsciousness to alertness.
Examples
I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep.
Did you wake up suddenly because of a dream?
Related words
Common phrases
waking up suddenly from a nightmare
waking up suddenly in the middle of the night
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply waking up, which is 瞓醒. 扎醒 specifically carries the nuance of a sudden, involuntary jerk or shock that pulls you out of sleep.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
