tek3踢
Jyutpingtek3
Yaletek
Definition
To kick; to strike or apply force with the foot.
colloquialdaily actionssports
How it's used
Beyond the literal action of using a foot to strike something, this verb is frequently used in work contexts to mean to shirk or pass off responsibilities. When someone says 踢波 in a professional setting, they are often complaining about colleagues who deflect tasks to others rather than handling them personally.
Examples
He really likes to go play soccer after work.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes imply firing someone or being kicked out of a group, which is less common in everyday Cantonese unless using specific slang like 踢走.
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.
