daan1 daan1 daa2 daa2單單打打单单打打
Definition
To make roundabout, sarcastic, or mean comments about someone in their presence to express disdain or resentment.
How it's used
This expression describes a passive aggressive style of communication where the speaker makes pointed, sarcastic comments meant for a specific person to hear, but without addressing them directly. It implies a lack of courage to confront the person face to face, relying instead on indirect jabs to express disapproval or jealousy. It is often used to describe workplace drama or tension between friends.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general complaining or gossiping. The key distinction is that the target must be present or within earshot for the comments to count as single-single-hit-hit, making it a deliberate act of provocation rather than just venting behind someone's back.
Grammar color guide
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.
