daa2 dau3打鬥打斗
Jyutpingdaa2 dau3
Yaledá dau
Definition
To fight or engage in a physical brawl.
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How it's used
While 打鬥 carries the meaning of fighting, it sounds significantly more formal and detached than the everyday term 打交. It is frequently encountered in news reports, police statements, or official school notices to describe physical altercations in a clinical, objective manner. Using it in casual conversation with friends will likely make you sound like you are reading a newspaper headline aloud.
Examples
They are fighting in the street, it's a huge mess.
If you see people fighting, remember to call the police for help.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 打鬥 when talking about a simple playground scuffle or a minor disagreement between friends, as it implies a level of severity or public disturbance that is out of place in casual settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
