tau4 on3投案
Jyutpingtau4 on3
Yaletàuh on
Definition
To surrender oneself to the police; to turn oneself in.
neutralother
How it's used
This term is formal and carries a serious, legalistic tone, often appearing in news reports or crime dramas. While it describes the act of turning oneself in, it is distinct from the more common, everyday expression 自首, which is used more broadly to describe the act of admitting guilt.
Examples
He committed a crime and finally decided to go to the police station to surrender.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to admit a mistake, but it is strictly reserved for legal contexts involving police or authorities. Do not use it for confessing to minor personal errors or social blunders.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
