tou4逃

Jyutpingtou4

Yaletòuh

語素Common

Definition

To run away, escape, or flee.

neutraldaily actions

How it's used

While 逃 is a formal morpheme used in compound words like 逃走 or 逃避, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in spoken Cantonese. Native speakers typically prefer using 走, 跑, or 走佬 when describing the act of fleeing or escaping. Using 逃 alone can sound overly dramatic or literary, as if lifted from a news report or a historical drama.

Examples

keoi5佢geng1驚dou3到zik1即hak1刻tou4逃zau2走zo2咗。

He was so scared that he ran away immediately.

nei5你nam2諗zyu6住tou4逃heoi3去bin1邊aa4呀？

Where do you think you are running off to?

Common phrases

tou4逃zau2走

to run away

tou4逃bei6避

to avoid or evade

Common mistake

Learners often try to use 逃 as a direct equivalent to the English verb escape in casual conversation, but it sounds unnatural. Use 走 or 走佬 for escaping a situation or a person, and save 逃 for formal contexts or specific compound verbs.