lou5 lou5 sat6 sat6老老實實老老实实
Jyutpinglou5 lou5 sat6 sat6
Yalelóuh lóuh saht saht
Definition
To be honest; honestly speaking. Used to preface a frank or difficult truth.
colloquialcommunicationemotion
How it's used
Functioning as a discourse marker, this phrase signals that the speaker is about to offer a candid, potentially blunt, or slightly uncomfortable opinion. It serves to soften the blow of the upcoming statement by framing it as a sincere, unfiltered truth. It is almost exclusively used at the very beginning of a sentence to set the tone for a serious or private conversation.
Examples
To be honest, what do you think of this job?
To be honest, I really don't want to go to that gathering.
Related words
Common phrases
to speak honestly
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal written reports or professional emails, as it is strictly a spoken, conversational expression. It can sound overly casual or even confrontational if used in a setting where a more neutral or polite tone is expected.
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.
