cam1 tan1侵吞
Jyutpingcam1 tan1
Yalechām tān
Definition
To annex, embezzle, or seize other people's property or land using illegitimate means.
neutralmoneywork
How it's used
Focuses on the illicit nature of the acquisition, often implying a breach of trust or power. It is frequently used in formal reports or news regarding corruption and financial crimes, though it remains perfectly understandable in everyday speech when discussing serious theft or land grabbing.
Examples
He embezzled a lot of public funds from the company.
Who would dare to annex this piece of land?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simple stealing like 偷. 侵吞 implies a position of authority or access that allows someone to misappropriate assets that were entrusted to them, such as company funds or public property.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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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.
