gou3 mat6告密
Jyutpinggou3 mat6
Yalegou maht
Definition
To inform against someone, or to report secret or illicit activities to authorities.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation of betrayal or backstabbing, often used in school or workplace settings to describe someone who reports others to authority figures. Unlike formal reporting, this term implies the act is done secretly or for personal gain. It is frequently used as a verb in casual conversation to describe someone acting as a tattletale.
Examples
Who went to snitch?
He always likes to snitch, it's so annoying.
Related words
Common phrases
informer
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 舉報, which is a more formal or neutral term used for reporting crimes or official violations to the authorities. Using 告密 in a professional or legal context can sound overly dramatic or accusatory.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
