si1 haa6私下
Jyutpingsi1 haa6
Yalesī hah
Definition
In private, in secret, or behind closed doors.
colloquialcommunicationother
How it's used
Implies a sense of confidentiality or an informal arrangement outside of official channels. It is frequently used when two parties want to bypass formal procedures or avoid public scrutiny. Unlike formal terms for secrecy, this carries a nuance of personal discretion or a side agreement.
Examples
We have discussed it in private, don't tell anyone.
Can you handle this matter for me in private?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean 'personal' as an adjective for objects, such as 'private property' or 'private room', where terms like 私人 are required instead.
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.
