gong2 si6 fei1講是非讲是非
Jyutpinggong2 si6 fei1
Yalegóng sih fēi
Definition
To gossip; to spread rumors or talk behind people's backs.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the speaker is actively spreading rumors or creating conflict between people. It is more specific than just chatting or talking about others, as it suggests malicious intent or stirring up trouble. People often use it to warn others to stay away from someone who is known to be untrustworthy.
Examples
They love gossiping behind people's backs the most.
Stop gossiping all the time, it's so boring.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 傾偈, which is neutral and simply means to chat. Using 講是非 to describe a friendly conversation will make you sound like you are accusing the participants of being mean-spirited.
Grammar color guide
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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.
