hoi1 saai3 hong6開晒巷开晒巷
Jyutpinghoi1 saai3 hong6
Yalehōi saai hohng
Definition
To be known to everyone; to have become common knowledge.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This expression carries a sense of exposure or loss of privacy, often implying that a secret or private matter has become public knowledge against one's wishes. It is frequently used when someone is frustrated that a situation has spiraled out of control and is now common gossip. The term implies a sense of finality, as once something is open, it cannot be hidden again.
Examples
The matter is out in the open, everyone knows about it.
Why did you end up making this public to everyone?
Related words
Common phrases
to cause something to become public knowledge
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of opening a street, but it is strictly metaphorical. It is not used for official announcements or press releases, as those are neutral or positive, whereas this phrase almost always carries a negative or gossipy connotation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
