cyun3 tou4竄逃窜逃
Jyutpingcyun3 tou4
Yalechyun tòuh
Definition
To flee or run away (typically said of enemies, thieves, or suspects).
writtenpeople
How it's used
This term carries a formal or literary tone that is rarely used in casual daily conversation. It implies a sense of cowardice or illicit activity, often appearing in news reports or crime dramas rather than when talking about someone simply leaving a room. Native speakers typically prefer using 走, 逃走, or 走佬 in everyday settings.
Examples
The thief fled immediately upon seeing the police.
Do they still have any room to escape?
Related words
Common phrases
fleeing in all directions
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb for running away, but using it in casual contexts makes the speaker sound like they are reading from a newspaper headline. Stick to 走 or 逃走 for normal speech.
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.
