tai2 haa3睇吓

Jyutpingtai2 haa3

Yaletái ha

Definition

To have a look, or to depend on circumstances.

to have a look; to take a glance; to check out
to depend on; to see how things go

colloquialdaily actions

How it's used

Reduplication of verbs is a hallmark of Cantonese, used to soften the tone and imply a brief or casual action. Adding 吓 to 睇 turns a direct command into a gentle suggestion or a casual request. When used as a response meaning "it depends," it signals that the speaker is non-committal or waiting for more information before deciding.

Related words

Common mistake

Learners often confuse 睇吓 with 睇下. While they are phonetically identical in many contexts, 睇吓 is the preferred written form for the reduplicated verb in Cantonese, whereas 下 is often reserved for the directional or ordinal marker.