haang4 bit1行咇
Jyutpinghaang4 bit1
Yalehàahng bīt
Definition
To go on patrol; to walk a beat.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This term is specific to the Hong Kong Police Force and refers to officers walking their assigned beat. It is derived from the English word beat, reflecting the colonial history of the local police structure. While it describes a professional duty, it is used naturally in casual conversation when discussing police presence in a neighborhood.
Examples
That police officer has to patrol every day.
Related words
Common phrases
patrol route
Common mistake
Do not use this word for general walking or for patrolling by vehicle, as it specifically implies walking on foot.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
