gaan3 zo2諫阻谏阻

Jyutpinggaan3 zo2

Yalegaan jó

Definition

To admonish and dissuade someone from doing something.

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How it's used

Carries a formal and serious tone, often implying a sense of moral duty or concern for someone's well-being. It is rarely used in casual, everyday banter between friends, as it suggests a hierarchical or significant relationship where one party has the authority or closeness to offer corrective advice. You will encounter it more frequently in written news, formal discussions, or when describing serious interventions.

Examples

keoi5佢hou2好gu3固zap1執，dim2點joeng2樣gaan3諫zo2阻dou1都mou5冇jung6用。

He is so stubborn, no matter how I try to dissuade him, it is useless.

nei5你si3試gwo3過gaan3諫zo2阻keoi5佢m4唔hou2好zou6做nei4呢joeng6樣je5嘢mei6未aa4呀？

Have you tried to admonish him against doing this thing yet?

Common phrases

gaan3諫zo2阻mou4無haau6效

admonishment and dissuasion proved ineffective

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with simple advice or persuasion, but it specifically implies stopping someone from making a mistake or doing something wrong. Using it for casual suggestions, like telling a friend what to eat for dinner, sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.