baat3八

Jyutpingbaat3

Yalebaat

動詞Very common

Definition

To gossip, pry, nose around, or sniff out information.

ngo5我baat3八dim2點fan3瞓gaau3覺。

ngo5我baat3八dim2点fan3瞓gaau3觉。

I sleep at eight.

colloquialpeoplecommunication

How it's used

Originating from the concept of the Eight Trigrams, this term implies a restless curiosity about the private affairs of others. It is frequently used as a verb to describe the act of actively seeking out gossip or prying into secrets. While often used in a playful or lighthearted way among friends, it can also carry a slightly negative connotation of being intrusive.

Examples

nei5你zou6做me1咩gam3咁baat3八aa4呀，jan4人dei6哋ge3嘅si6事m4唔hou2好lei5理laa1啦。

Why are you being so nosy? Don't worry about other people's business.

dang2等ngo5我baat3八haa6下bin1邊go3個san1新tung4同si6事jap6入zik1職sin1先。

Let me go sniff around to see who the new colleague is.

Common phrases

baat3八gwaa3卦

gossip

baat3八haa5下

to have a quick look or ask around

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the number eight, which is a noun. When used as a verb, it often takes the particle 下 to soften the tone, as in 八下, indicating a casual attempt to find out information.