壓力
aat3 lik6
In Cantonese, the word for stress is 壓力 (aat3 lik6).
The term 壓力 is used to describe both psychological stress and physical pressure. To describe intense stress, you can say 好大壓力.
Meaning: emotional pressure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The first character, 壓, means to press or squeeze.
How do you pronounce it?
aat3 lik6
Did you know?
- The first character, 壓, can also be used in the phrase 壓軸, which refers to the 'grand finale' or the most important act of a performance.
- In Cantonese, the word for 'relief' or 'decompressing' from 壓力 is often expressed as 鬆, which literally means 'loose'.
- In Hong Kong, the phrase 壓力 is frequently used in the context of 'tiger parenting' and academic competition, often paired with the term 卷 to describe an exhausting social rat race.
Examples in context
- 最近工作壓力好大呀。Work stress has been overwhelming lately.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about work during lunch.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你最近工作壓力大唔大？nei5 zeoi3 gan6 gung1 zok3 aat3 lik6 daat6 m4 daat6?Have you had a lot of work stress lately?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好大呀，我真係好攰。hou2 daat6 aa3, ngo5 zan1 hai6 hou2 gui6.Very much, I am really tired.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan要唔要放個假去放鬆吓？ju1 m4 ju1 fong3 go3 faa3 heoi3 fong3 sung1 haa5?Do you want to take a holiday to relax?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好呀，我真係需要休息下。hou2 aa3, ngo5 zan1 hai6 seoi1 jiu3 jau1 sik1 haa5.Yes, I really need to rest a bit.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
