jan4 san1 gung1 gik1人身攻擊人身攻击
Jyutpingjan4 san1 gung1 gik1
Yaleyàhn sān gūng gīk
Definition
To make a personal attack or ad hominem argument, criticizing someone using unrelated personal factors.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This term is used to call out someone for shifting the focus from the actual argument to attacking the character or background of their opponent. It carries a formal and serious tone, often used in debates, professional settings, or when someone feels offended by a rude remark. While it sounds like a formal term, it is frequently used in everyday arguments to demand a more respectful tone.
Examples
Let's stick to the discussion, don't make it personal.
Are they resorting to ad hominem attacks because they have no argument?
Related words
Common phrases
to conduct an ad hominem attack
to refuse to engage in personal attacks
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.
