baat3 gung1八公
Jyutpingbaat3 gung1
Yalebaat gūng
Definition
A nosy man; a male busybody or gossip.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Derived from the verb 八卦, this term specifically targets men who exhibit stereotypical gossiping behavior. It carries a strong derogatory tone and is used to insult someone for being overly intrusive or meddlesome in other people's private affairs. Calling someone a 八公 is a direct confrontation and is rarely used in a friendly or joking manner.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That nosy guy is always gossiping about people.
Why are you being such a busybody?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this term to describe women, as it is gender-specific. For women who gossip, the term 八婆 is used instead.
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.
