pong3謗谤
Jyutpingpong3
Yalepong
Definition
To slander, defame, or speak ill of someone.
writtenpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Literary in origin, this character is rarely used in casual spoken Cantonese, where people prefer phrases like 講人壞話 or 唱衰人. It carries a formal or serious tone, often appearing in contexts involving legal disputes or moral condemnation. Using it in everyday conversation can sound surprisingly intense or archaic.
Examples
He is always slandering people behind their backs, it is very low class.
Do not slander people recklessly, be careful of bringing trouble upon yourself.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for 謗 as a common verb, but it is much more formal than the colloquial 唱衰. Avoid using it in casual gossip unless you intend to sound overly dramatic or stern.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
