jung6 ci4 bat1 dong3用詞不當用词不当

Jyutpingjung6 ci4 bat1 dong3

Yaleyuhng chìh bāt dong

Definition

Inappropriate or improper choice of words.

writtencommunicationwork

How it's used

This phrase is primarily used in formal or academic contexts to critique writing or speech. It functions as a noun phrase rather than a verb, often appearing as the subject or object of a sentence. While it sounds quite serious, it is the standard way to point out that someone has used a word that is technically incorrect or socially insensitive in a specific context.

Examples

nei5你ne1呢geoi3句jung6用ci4詞bat1不dong3當，hou2好jung4容ji6易ng6誤wui6會。

Your choice of words in that sentence is inappropriate, it's very easy to cause a misunderstanding.

fan2份bou3報gou3告hou2好do1多jung6用ci4詞bat1不dong3當，maa4麻faan4煩nei5你goi2改faan1返hou2好keoi5佢。

The report has many inappropriate word choices, please fix them.

Common phrases

ceot1出jin6現jung6用ci4詞bat1不dong3當

to contain inappropriate word choices

zi2指zing3正jung6用ci4詞bat1不dong3當

to point out inappropriate word choices

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a verb phrase, but it cannot be used directly as a verb like 'to misuse a word'. You must use it with a verb like 係 or 出現, such as 呢度出現用詞不當.