gong2 zan1講真讲真
Jyutpinggong2 zan1
Yalegóng jān
Definition
To speak honestly; to tell the truth or be frank.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Functions as a sentence-initial discourse marker to signal that the speaker is about to offer a sincere or blunt opinion. It is much more common in casual conversation than the more formal 實話實說. When used as a question, it acts as a challenge to verify if someone is being serious or joking.
Examples
To be honest, this job is really hard to do.
Related words
Common phrases
to be frank for a moment
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English adverb 'honestly' in every context, as it specifically introduces a statement rather than modifying a verb.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
