caa4 gaa1 zaak6查家宅
Jyutpingcaa4 gaa1 zaak6
Yalechàh gā jaahk
Definition
To make an overly detailed and personal inquiry into someone, or literally to look up residence information.
- figurativeto make an overly detailed, intrusive, and personal inquiry into someone
- to look up the information of someone's residence
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Originally referring to the police procedure of verifying a person's residential address, this term has evolved into a common, slightly aggressive metaphor for prying into someone's private life. It carries a strong negative connotation of being intrusive or overstepping personal boundaries. Use it when you feel someone is asking questions that are far too personal or irrelevant to the situation at hand.
Examples
You are asking so many details, are you interrogating me?
Related words
Common phrases
like an interrogation
Common mistake
Do not use this term in a formal or professional context, as it implies the other person is being rude or invasive. It is strictly for informal, often confrontational, social situations.
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.
