hoi1 hong1開腔开腔
Jyutpinghoi1 hong1
Yalehōi hōng
Definition
To begin to speak, voice an opinion, or state a stance on a matter.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the act of breaking silence to provide an official stance or a significant opinion on a sensitive topic. It carries more weight than simply starting a conversation, often implying that the speaker was previously silent or hesitant to get involved. Use this when someone finally addresses a controversy or makes a public declaration.
Examples
He finally agreed to speak up and tell the truth about what happened.
Do you have any plans to speak out and respond to this news?
Related words
Common phrases
to speak out publicly
to break silence and respond
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 開口, which is a neutral term for simply starting to speak or asking someone for a favor. 開腔 is reserved for more formal or serious contexts where one is expected to take a position.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
