dung6 haak3恫嚇恫吓
Jyutpingdung6 haak3
Yaleduhng haak
Definition
To threaten or intimidate someone by swaggering or bluffing.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Carries a strong connotation of insincerity or bluffing, implying that the person making the threat lacks the actual power or intent to follow through. It is frequently used to describe bullies or people in positions of authority who use bluster to maintain control. Unlike simple threats, it focuses on the performative aspect of the intimidation.
Examples
He is always trying to scare the kids with empty threats, it's really classless.
Don't you even think about trying to intimidate me with that trick.
Related words
Common mistake
Often confused with 威脅, which is a more neutral or serious term for a genuine threat. Using 恫嚇 implies you believe the person is just putting on a show, so it can sound dismissive or insulting if used to describe a real, dangerous threat.
Grammar color guide
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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.
