dung6 sau2動手动手

Jyutpingdung6 sau2

Yaleduhng sáu

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To start doing something, or to assault and initiate a fight.

to start doing something; to take action
to assault; to initiate a fight; to hit someone

colloquialpeopledaily actions

How it's used

While 動手 is understood in Cantonese, native speakers almost exclusively use 郁手 to describe physical aggression or starting a fight. Using 郁手 makes your speech sound much more natural and local. It carries a sense of impulsiveness, often implying that someone has lost their temper and crossed the line into physical confrontation.

Common phrases

juk1郁sau2手juk1郁goek3腳

to be fidgety or physically restless

juk1郁sau2手daa2打jan4人

to hit someone

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where 動手 can simply mean to start working on a task. In Cantonese, 郁手 almost always carries a negative connotation of violence or physical interference, unless used in specific idiomatic contexts like 郁手郁腳 to describe being fidgety or physically restless.