ceoi1 saau3吹哨
Definition
To blow the whistle; to secretly report someone or inform on them to the authorities.
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of moral judgment and social disapproval, implying that the act is a form of betrayal rather than a noble deed. While it shares the same literal meaning as the English idiom, it is almost exclusively used to describe someone acting as an informant or a snitch in a negative context. It is frequently associated with the social stigma of being a traitor to one's group or peers.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for the literal act of blowing a whistle, such as a referee in a sports match, but it is strictly used for reporting someone to authorities. Using it in a sports context will cause confusion as it is reserved for social or criminal betrayal.
Grammar color guide
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.
