tau1 ak1 gwaai2 pin3偷呃拐騙偷呃拐骗
Jyutpingtau1 ak1 gwaai2 pin3
Yaletāu āk gwáai pin
Definition
To steal, swindle, kidnap, and cheat; to commit all kinds of crimes and scams.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This four character idiom functions as a comprehensive label for someone who engages in various forms of dishonesty or criminal activity. It is often used to describe a person's general character or lifestyle rather than a single specific incident. The tone is strongly condemnatory and is typically used to warn others or to express deep disapproval of someone's moral conduct.
Examples
He is always swindling and stealing; he is truly beyond saving.
Don't you go around stealing and swindling; you'll end up in jail.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a single instance of a crime, as it implies a habitual or all encompassing pattern of bad behavior. It is not a formal legal term but rather a colloquial way to condemn someone's entire way of life.
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.
