ziu1 gap1焦急
Jyutpingziu1 gap1
Yalejīu gāp
Definition
Anxious, worried, and eager to know how a situation will develop.
neutralemotion
How it's used
While this word is understood in Cantonese, it sounds slightly more formal or literary compared to the everyday term 擔心. It is often used in written contexts or when someone wants to emphasize a high level of urgency and distress. In casual speech, people usually prefer using 驚 or 擔心 to express the same feeling.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use this word in every situation where they feel worried, but it specifically implies a sense of impatience or a desire for a quick resolution. If you are just feeling generally concerned or uneasy, 擔心 is a much more natural and common choice.
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.
