taan2 baak6坦白

Jyutpingtaan2 baak6

Yaletáan baahk

形容詞Common

Definition

Frank, honest, and open; to speak candidly about something difficult without holding back.

colloquialcommunicationdescriptions

How it's used

Use this word to signal that you are about to drop a truth bomb or share something potentially awkward. It often functions as a conversational bridge to soften the blow of a blunt opinion or a confession. Unlike formal contexts where it might sound clinical, in daily speech it carries a sense of sincerity and vulnerability.

Examples

ngo5我taan2坦baak6白gong2講，kei4其sat6實ngo5我m4唔hai6係hou2好zung1鍾ji3意le1呢fan2份gung1工。

To be frank, I don't really like this job.

nei5你jau5有me1咩m4唔hoi1開sam1心，bat1不jyu4如taan2坦baak6白waa6話bei2畀ngo5我teng1聽laa1啦。

If you're unhappy about something, why not be honest and tell me?

Common phrases

taan2坦baak6白gong2講

frankly speaking

taan2坦baak6白cung4從fun1寬

leniency for those who confess

Common mistake

Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English verb confess in a legal or religious sense, as it focuses more on the act of being open and honest rather than admitting to a specific crime or sin.