hoi1 sau2開手开手

Jyutpinghoi1 sau2

Yalehōi sáu

Definition

To let go or release; also to start, or to start a fight.

to let something leave from one's hands; to release one's grip
to start; to begin an action
to start a fight; to come to blows

colloquialdaily actionspeople

How it's used

Distinguish between the literal physical action of releasing an object and the metaphorical sense of initiating a physical confrontation. When referring to starting a fight, it implies the very first move or the act of throwing the first punch. It is distinct from starting a task or project, for which you would use 開工 instead.

Examples

nei5你zou6做me1咩hoi1開sau2手m4唔zuk1捉zyu6住keoi5佢aa4呀？

Why did you let go and not hold onto it?

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個喺hai2街gaai1度dou6開hoi1手sau2打daa2交。

The two of them started a fight in the street.

Common phrases

hoi1開sau2手daa2打gaau1交

to start a fight

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 開手 in a gambling context, which can refer to the start of a round or a specific hand of cards in certain games. Using it to mean starting a general activity will sound unnatural to native speakers.