haan4 waa6閒話闲话
Jyutpinghaan4 waa6
Yalehàahn wah
Definition
Gossip, rumors, or digressive talk.
- unfounded gossip, rumors, or negative remarks
- unimportant talk, idle chit-chat, or digressions
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Focuses on idle chatter that is often unproductive or malicious. While it can simply mean digressing from a main topic, it most frequently carries a negative connotation of spreading rumors or criticizing others when they are not present.
Measure word
geoi3句geuiExamples
Stop gossiping about people behind their backs all the time.
The two of them are always chatting about nonsense instead of working.
Related words
Common phrases
to gossip
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 閒聊, which refers to friendly, casual small talk. 閒話 implies a lack of substance or a potentially harmful intent, whereas 閒聊 is generally neutral or positive.
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.
