zik1癪
Jyutpingzik1
Yalejīk
Definition
Spasms or hysteria.
colloquialemotionhealth
How it's used
Primarily used to describe sudden, irrational, or uncontrollable emotional outbursts, often implying a loss of composure that borders on the dramatic. It carries a slightly derogatory or critical tone, suggesting the person is being unreasonable or difficult to deal with. While it can refer to physical spasms in medical contexts, it is far more common in daily speech to describe someone acting out or throwing a tantrum.
Examples
When she has a hysterical fit, it is truly terrifying.
Why are you having a hysterical outburst for no reason?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general anger or sadness. It specifically implies a state of hysteria or a fit of pique that is seen as excessive or irrational by others.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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.
