tik1貣
Jyutpingtik1
Yaletīk
Definition
To ask for a loan, borrow, or beg.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
This character is rarely seen in modern writing and is almost exclusively used in spoken Cantonese to describe the act of borrowing money or asking for a favor. It carries a slightly negative or desperate connotation, often implying that the person asking is in a difficult financial situation or is being a nuisance. It is distinct from the standard word 借, which is neutral and refers to the act of borrowing or lending in a formal or everyday context.
Examples
He is always going around asking people for loans.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 借. Use 借 for standard borrowing or lending, whereas 貣 is specifically for the act of begging or persistently asking for money, often without a clear plan to pay it back.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
