faat3法
Jyutpingfaat3
Yalefaat
Definition
Law; rules and regulations that restrict and guide human behavior in society.
neutralother
How it's used
While representing the concept of law, this character is rarely used as a standalone noun in spoken Cantonese. It primarily functions as a morpheme in compound words like 法律 or 犯法. When referring to a specific rule or method, speakers often prefer terms like 規矩 or 方法 instead.
Examples
Is this thing against the law?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to mean method or way, but it is too formal for that context. Use 方法 for method instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
