gou3 zong6告狀告状
Jyutpinggou3 zong6
Yalegou johng
Definition
To lodge a complaint or report someone's wrongdoing to a superior or someone in authority.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation of being a tattletale or a snitch. It is most commonly used in school or office settings to describe someone who reports others to an authority figure to get them into trouble, rather than to resolve a serious issue. Using this word often implies that the person reporting is being petty or seeking personal gain.
Examples
Why do you always go to the teacher to tell on people?
He loves telling on others, so nobody likes him.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word when you are making a formal, legitimate complaint about a service or a product, as that would be 投訴. 告狀 is specifically about reporting a person's behavior to someone in power to get them punished.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
