caam4 jin4讒言谗言
Jyutpingcaam4 jin4
Yalechàahm yìhn
Definition
Slanderous talk; calumny that distorts the truth to defame others.
writtenpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This term carries a formal and literary weight, often appearing in historical dramas or serious discussions about office politics and betrayal. It specifically refers to malicious speech intended to damage someone's reputation by distorting the truth. In everyday casual conversation, people are far more likely to use colloquial expressions like 講是非 or 唱衰人 instead.
Examples
He loves slandering people behind their backs the most.
Don't just believe those slanderous lies you hear.
Related words
Common phrases
to spread slander
to listen to and believe slander
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is strictly a noun. You cannot say 佢讒言我, as it requires a verb like 講 or 散佈 to function in a sentence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
