zing1怔
Jyutpingzing1
Yalejīng
Definition
To be stunned, taken aback, or caught off guard and temporarily unable to react due to surprise.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Describes a momentary lapse in reaction caused by sudden shock or confusion. It specifically captures the physical stillness or blank expression that follows an unexpected event. Unlike being scared, which implies fear, this focuses on the cognitive pause where the brain is processing new information.
Examples
After hearing the news, he was completely stunned and stood there frozen.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 呆, which implies a more prolonged state of being dazed or absent-minded. 怔 is specifically triggered by an external, surprising stimulus.
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.
