aat3 zi2遏止
Jyutpingaat3 zi2
Yaleaat jí
Definition
To suppress, hold back, or stop something from happening or spreading.
writtenother
How it's used
Carries a formal and authoritative tone, often appearing in news reports or official statements regarding crime, inflation, or social issues. It implies a deliberate and forceful effort to halt something negative before it spreads or worsens. Unlike more casual verbs, it suggests a structured or systematic intervention.
Examples
The government must suppress this unhealthy trend.
Do you have any way to stop him from continuing to lose his temper?
Related words
Common phrases
to suppress unhealthy trends
to suppress crime
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general word for stopping someone, but it is specifically for suppressing abstract trends, negative behaviors, or systemic problems rather than physical actions like stopping a car or a person walking.
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.
