zin1 ngou4煎熬
Jyutpingzin1 ngou4
Yalejīn ngòuh
Definition
Torment or agony; severe physical or mental suffering.
neutralemotionhealth
How it's used
Refers to a prolonged state of mental or physical suffering rather than a sudden sharp pain. It carries a sense of being slowly worn down over time, similar to how food is cooked slowly in a pan. While it can describe physical illness, it is most frequently used to describe emotional states like anxiety, waiting, or difficult life circumstances.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple annoyance or minor discomfort. It is a heavy word reserved for significant, persistent distress that feels like a long, drawn out ordeal.
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).
