zong6 sei2 maa5撞死馬撞死马
Jyutpingzong6 sei2 maa5
Yalejohng séi máh
Definition
To look extremely panicked or in a great rush, as if one has just run over and killed a horse.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
This expression describes a person who appears visibly flustered, anxious, or panicked, often as if they have just committed a terrible mistake. It is a vivid, idiomatic way to comment on someone's frazzled demeanor rather than literally referring to an accident involving a horse. The phrase is typically used with 咁款 to emphasize the resemblance to someone in that state.
Examples
Why do you look so panicked? What happened?
He always looks like he's in a huge rush, as if he's panicked.
Related words
Common phrases
looking like one has seen a ghost or is in a huge panic
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of an accident. It is purely a metaphorical idiom for being flustered or looking like you have seen a ghost, so do not use it to describe actual traffic incidents.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
