haak3 tou3客套
Jyutpinghaak3 tou3
Yalehaak tou
Definition
Courteous formulas, polite remarks, or social pleasantries.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Often carries a slightly negative or dismissive connotation when describing social interactions. It implies that the politeness is performative or superficial rather than genuine, serving as a social lubricant to maintain distance or follow protocol. When someone tells you 唔使客套, they are inviting you to drop the formal facade and be more direct or intimate.
Examples
We know each other so well, no need for such courteous talk.
He was so overly courteous towards me that it made me feel uncomfortable.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use this to mean genuine politeness, but it specifically refers to social niceties that are expected by convention. Using it to describe a sincere act of kindness can sound like you are accusing the person of being fake.
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.
