bou6 hang6暴行
Jyutpingbou6 hang6
Yalebouh hahng
Definition
An atrocity; a savage, cruel, or violent act.
neutralother
How it's used
Focuses on extreme, violent, or inhumane conduct rather than simple physical fighting. It is typically reserved for formal contexts like news reports, historical accounts, or serious legal discussions. Using it in casual conversation about a minor scuffle sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
Measure word
daan1單dānExamples
They committed so many atrocities, it is truly outrageous.
How could they commit such savage acts against children?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 暴力, which is a general term for violence. 暴行 specifically refers to a concrete act or event of cruelty, whereas 暴力 describes the nature of the force used.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
