ziu1 cou3焦躁
Jyutpingziu1 cou3
Yalejīu chou
Definition
Anxious, restless, and irritable.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
Focuses specifically on an internal state of restlessness and impatience rather than just simple worry. It often implies that the person is unable to sit still or maintain their composure due to pressure or waiting. While it can describe a personality trait, it is more commonly used to describe a temporary reaction to stressful situations.
Examples
He has been very anxious lately and loses his temper all the time.
Why are you so anxious? Just take your time.
Related words
Common phrases
anxious and restless
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple nervousness or fear, as it carries a stronger sense of agitation and irritability. It is not a direct substitute for 驚 or 擔心 which are more appropriate for general anxiety or fear.
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).



