tam𧨾
Jyutpingtam
Yaletam
Definition
To coax, sweet-talk, or trick someone.
- to coax; to wheedle; to sweet-talk or make someone happy
- to trick; to cheat; to fool
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Often used in the context of soothing or pacifying someone, such as calming a crying child or sweet-talking a partner to resolve a minor conflict. It carries a nuance of using soft or deceptive words to achieve a desired emotional reaction. While it can imply malicious deception, it is frequently used for harmless, playful, or manipulative social interactions.
Examples
Don't you even think about trying to trick me.
He is always sweet-talking girls to make them happy.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 呃, which strictly implies lying or defrauding someone for personal gain. 𧨾 focuses more on the interpersonal dynamic of persuasion or emotional appeasement rather than just factual dishonesty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
