can1 hau2親口亲口
Jyutpingcan1 hau2
Yalechān háu
Definition
To say something from one's own mouth rather than having someone else pass on the message.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the act of speaking, emphasizing that the information came directly from the source rather than through a third party. It is often used to add weight or credibility to a statement, implying that because it was heard directly, it must be true. It is most commonly paired with verbs of communication like 講 or 承認.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 親自, which means to do something personally in a general sense. 親口 is strictly limited to verbal communication, whereas 親自 can apply to any action, such as cooking, writing, or visiting.
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.
