cing4 jau4情由
Jyutpingcing4 jau4
Yalechìhng yàuh
Definition
The details of how and why something happened.
neutralcommunication
How it's used
This term is formal and often appears in written reports, legal contexts, or when someone is being interrogated about a sequence of events. It carries a sense of investigating the underlying logic or the chain of causality rather than just a simple reason. You will rarely hear it in casual banter between friends, where people would prefer to use 點解 or 發生咩事.
Examples
Tell me clearly the whole story of how this happened.
He refuses to explain the reasons behind the incident, which is very strange.
Related words
Common phrases
investigate the facts and reasons
explain the circumstances
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 理由, which refers specifically to a justification or an excuse. 情由 focuses on the narrative of how a situation unfolded, whereas 理由 focuses on the argumentative basis for an action or opinion.
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.
