am3 zung1暗中
Jyutpingam3 zung1
Yaleam jūng
Definition
Secretly, privately, or in stealth.
neutraldaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Implies an action performed behind someone's back or without public knowledge, often carrying a slightly negative or conspiratorial connotation. It functions as an adverbial modifier placed before the verb to describe the hidden nature of the action. Unlike 偷偷, which focuses on the act of sneaking or avoiding detection, 暗中 emphasizes the lack of transparency in a process or plan.
Examples
Did you secretly tamper with anything?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe simple physical hiding, such as hiding an object in a drawer, where 收埋 is more appropriate. It is strictly for describing the manner of an action rather than the physical concealment of items.
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.
