bou2 sik1保釋保释
Jyutpingbou2 sik1
Yalebóu sīk
Definition
To release on bail; to pay money to secure the temporary release of an arrested person.
neutralother
How it's used
Legal contexts in Hong Kong frequently use this term to describe the process of securing temporary freedom while awaiting trial. It implies a formal procedure involving police or court approval rather than a casual arrangement between individuals. The focus is on the conditional nature of the release, which often requires surrendering travel documents or reporting to a station regularly.
Examples
He paid fifty thousand dollars to be released on bail.
Did the police allow him to be released on bail?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 擔保, which is a broader term for guaranteeing someone's actions or debts. While 擔保 can be part of the bail process, 保釋 specifically refers to the legal status of being released from custody.
Grammar color guide
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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.
