fong3 seng1 hei3放聲氣放声气
Jyutpingfong3 seng1 hei3
Yalefong sēng hei
Definition
To leak information; to drop a hint or spread rumors about something.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This expression carries a nuance of testing the waters or gauging reactions by leaking information indirectly. It is often used when someone wants to see how others respond to a potential change or plan without making an official announcement. The imagery of releasing gas suggests that the information is meant to drift through the air and reach people's ears subtly.
Examples
He deliberately leaked that he wants to resign.
Who spread the word that we don't have to work today?
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately leak information
someone leaked the word
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply telling someone a secret. It specifically implies a strategic or calculated leak meant to influence public opinion or provoke a response from a specific group.
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.
