hou2 waa2 m4 hou2 teng1好話唔好聽好话唔好听
Jyutpinghou2 waa2 m4 hou2 teng1
Yalehóu wá m̀h hóu tēng
Definition
To be frank; honestly speaking. Used as an introduction before saying something unpleasant or blunt.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Serves as a polite disclaimer before delivering harsh criticism or an unwelcome truth. It functions similarly to "with all due respect" in English, signaling that the speaker is aware their words might cause offense but feels compelled to say them anyway. It is essential for maintaining social harmony when addressing someone's shortcomings or poor decisions.
Examples
To be frank, your report is really written in a messy way.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with just being rude. The phrase is intended to soften the blow of a critique, so using it before an insult or a baseless attack can sound sarcastic or passive-aggressive rather than sincere.
Grammar color guide
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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.
