au2 daa2毆打殴打
Jyutpingau2 daa2
Yaleáu dá
Definition
To beat up; to hit ruthlessly or violent force.
writtendaily actions
How it's used
This term is formal and carries a strong legal or journalistic tone, often appearing in news reports or police statements. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe a simple scuffle or a playful hit between friends. For everyday situations, people prefer using the more direct and common verb 打.
Examples
Why did you beat up that innocent passerby?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word in casual settings as it sounds overly serious and clinical. Using it to describe a minor disagreement or a light tap will sound unnatural and overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
