tai2 paa4睇爬
Jyutpingtai2 paa4
Yaletái pàh
Definition
To watch out, be careful, or wise up, often used as advice or a warning.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Functions as a stern, informal warning to someone to be alert or cautious to avoid negative consequences. It carries a slightly condescending or 'I told you so' tone, implying that the speaker expects the listener to mess up if they do not pay attention. It is most frequently used when someone is being careless or naive in a social or professional setting.
Examples
Watch what you say, you better be careful or you will get reported.
Be sharp at work, you better watch out or the boss will scold you.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of watching something. It is strictly an idiomatic warning and cannot be used to mean 'to look at' or 'to watch' in a neutral sense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
