fei1 faat3非法
Jyutpingfei1 faat3
Yalefēi faat
Definition
Illegal; unlawful; violating the law.
neutralother
How it's used
Used primarily in formal contexts or news reports to describe activities that violate the law. While it functions as a modifier, it is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation where people might prefer more descriptive phrases like 犯法 or 唔合法. It carries a serious, objective tone suitable for legal or journalistic discussions.
Examples
They were arrested for entering the country illegally.
You should never get involved in these illegal activities.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it as a verb, but it is a modifier that must be paired with a noun or used in a construction like 係非法嘅. Avoid using it to describe personal behavior in a casual setting, as it sounds overly stiff or like a police report.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
