zoeng2 hung3掌控
Jyutpingzoeng2 hung3
Yalejéung hung
Definition
Control, mastery, or dominance over a person, situation, or thing.
neutralpeoplework
How it's used
Often used in abstract contexts regarding power, influence, or personal agency rather than physical manipulation. It carries a slightly formal or literary weight compared to the more common spoken term 控制. When describing someone being under the influence of another, it implies a deeper, more pervasive level of authority.
Examples
He really wants to have control over his own life.
This matter is completely out of your control.
Related words
Common phrases
lose control
have the overall situation under control
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the simpler 控制, which is more versatile and common in daily speech. Using 掌控 in casual conversation about simple tasks can sound overly dramatic or stiff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
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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).
