bat1 faat3不法
Jyutpingbat1 faat3
Yalebāt faat
Definition
Illegal or unlawful, typically used to describe criminal acts or perpetrators.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses specifically on criminal or illicit activities rather than minor civil infractions. It frequently appears in news reports or formal warnings to describe organized crime or shady business dealings. Unlike the more general 犯法, which can describe the act of breaking a law, 不法 often acts as a modifier for nouns like 勾當 or 行為 to characterize the nature of the activity.
Examples
They are doing illegal things, they will be arrested sooner or later.
This is an illegal act, you must not try it.
Related words
Common phrases
lawbreakers; criminals
illegal activities; shady business
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple rule-breaking like jaywalking or minor traffic violations, as it carries a much heavier weight implying criminal intent or serious illegality.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
