fu3咐

Jyutpingfu3

Yalefu

Definition

To order, instruct, or command.

neutralworkcommunication

How it's used

Used almost exclusively in the compound form 吩咐, which carries a sense of formal or respectful instruction from a superior to a subordinate. It implies a sense of duty or specific tasking rather than a casual request. You will rarely hear the single character 咐 used on its own in modern spoken Cantonese.

Examples

lou5老baan2闆fan1吩fu3咐zo2咗ngo5我zou6做nei4呢joeng6樣je5嘢。

The boss instructed me to do this.

nei5你gei3記m4唔gei3記dak1得keoi5佢fan1吩fu3咐gwo3過nei5你me1咩aa3呀？

Do you remember what he instructed you to do?

Common phrases

fan1吩fu3咐jat1一sing1聲

to give an instruction

ting1聽hau6候fan1吩fu3咐

to await instructions

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 叫, which is a neutral and common way to say tell or ask someone to do something. Using 吩咐 in a casual setting with friends can sound overly formal or even slightly condescending.