gaan3 dip6間諜间谍
Jyutpinggaan3 dip6
Yalegaan dihp
Definition
Spy; an agent who secretly gathers confidential information.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
While this term is the standard translation for spy, it carries a heavy, serious tone often associated with espionage films or political thrillers. In casual conversation, it is sometimes used hyperbolically to describe someone who is being overly inquisitive or acting like an informant for a boss or teacher.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He suspects there is a spy inside the company.
Who would have thought that he is actually a spy?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 偵探, which refers to a detective or private investigator. While both involve gathering information, 偵探 is usually a professional role hired for solving cases, whereas 間諜 implies clandestine, often illicit, activity against an organization or state.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
