duk6 sau2毒手
Jyutpingduk6 sau2
Yaleduhk sáu
Definition
Brutal or violent attack; sinister hands.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Often used in the phrase 落毒手, this term implies a calculated or particularly cruel act of violence rather than a random scuffle. It carries a strong sense of moral condemnation, suggesting the perpetrator has crossed a line of human decency. It is frequently seen in news reports or dramatic storytelling to describe betrayal or cold-blooded harm.
Examples
He actually committed a violent act against his own son.
Who was so heartless to carry out such a violent attack?
Related words
Common phrases
to commit a violent act
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the slang 毒男, which refers to a socially awkward or lonely male. While both share the character 毒, they belong to completely different semantic fields.
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.
