saam1 hau2 luk6 min6三口六面
Definition
To confront each other face-to-face in a three-way meeting to clarify things and settle a dispute.
How it's used
This expression implies a formal or serious confrontation where all relevant parties are present to prevent hearsay or misunderstandings. It is typically used when a conflict has reached a point where private discussion is no longer sufficient and a direct, transparent resolution is required. The imagery of three mouths and six faces highlights the necessity of having everyone involved in the dispute present to provide their side of the story.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple meeting or chat, but it carries a specific nuance of resolving a conflict or clearing up a suspicion. It is not used for casual social gatherings or neutral business meetings.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
