gaau1 tau4 zip3 ji5交頭接耳交头接耳
Jyutpinggaau1 tau4 zip3 ji5
Yalegāau tàuh jip yíh
Definition
To whisper to each other; to talk in a low voice.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom describes a scene of two people leaning in close to murmur, often implying that the conversation is secretive or inappropriate for the current setting. It carries a slightly negative connotation, as it is frequently used to criticize people for being disruptive or gossiping when they should be paying attention to a speaker or task.
Examples
The two of them are whispering to each other, I wonder what they are talking about?
Related words
Common phrases
to be whispering to each other
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard verb meaning to talk quietly, but it specifically emphasizes the physical action of leaning in close to whisper. It is not used for general quiet conversation, such as talking in a library, where other terms like 細細聲講嘢 are more appropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
