haau2 daa2拷打
Jyutpinghaau2 daa2
Yaleháau dá
Definition
To torture someone by beating them as a punishment or to force a confession.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a heavy, formal tone usually associated with historical contexts, police brutality, or extreme interrogation methods. It is rarely used in casual conversation and sounds quite severe or dramatic if applied to minor physical conflicts.
Examples
They caught that person and tortured him.
Who gave you permission to torture the suspect?
Related words
Common phrases
severe torture and interrogation
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general physical fighting or assault, which is better described by 打交 or 毆打. Using this word for a simple street fight sounds overly intense and implies a systematic, cruel process of extracting information or punishment.
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.
