kau3 tai4扣題扣题
Jyutpingkau3 tai4
Yalekau tàih
Definition
To stick close to the topic; to conform to the theme.
colloquialschoolcommunication
How it's used
Primarily used in academic or formal writing contexts to evaluate how well a response addresses the prompt. It functions as a predicate adjective and is frequently negated with 唔 to describe someone who rambles or fails to address the core issue.
Examples
He often goes off-topic when he speaks.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 離題, which is the direct antonym meaning to go off-topic. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it as a verb, but it is strictly an adjective describing the relationship between content and a topic.
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.
