dai2 laai6抵賴抵赖
Jyutpingdai2 laai6
Yaledái laaih
Definition
To deny responsibility or refuse to admit to a fault or crime.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This word carries a strong sense of dishonesty and evasion, specifically when someone is caught red-handed but still tries to wiggle out of responsibility. It is more active and confrontational than simply saying no, as it implies a deliberate attempt to manipulate the truth to escape consequences.
Examples
It was clearly your mistake, you still want to deny it?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 否認, which is a neutral way to say deny or disagree. 抵賴 is specifically about denying a fault or a crime that you actually committed, making it much more accusatory.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
