baat3 tung1 gaai1八通街
Jyutpingbaat3 tung1 gaai1
Yalebaat tūng gāai
Definition
To spread gossip everywhere; the widespread circulation of rumours.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This term vividly describes the act of gossip traveling through the streets like a network. It carries a negative connotation of someone being a busybody or a loose-lipped person who cannot keep a secret. It is often used to warn someone against spreading rumors or to criticize someone's habitual gossiping.
Examples
He loves spreading gossip everywhere, he spills all the secrets.
Don't go spreading this around, it's someone's private business.
Related words
Common phrases
spreading gossip like wildfire
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal street name or a transit card, but it is strictly a verb phrase describing the act of spreading rumors. It should not be used to describe formal news or official announcements.
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.
