tung1 fung1 bou3 seon3通風報訊通风报讯

Jyutpingtung1 fung1 bou3 seon3

Yaletūng fūng bou seun

Definition

To tip someone off, leak information, or divulge secret news.

colloquialcommunication

How it's used

Often used in contexts involving betrayal or secret cooperation, this phrase implies that someone is acting as an informant to help another party avoid trouble. It carries a negative connotation of disloyalty or meddling in affairs that should remain confidential. While it sounds slightly formal due to the four character structure, it is frequently used in casual conversation to describe workplace or social leaks.

Examples

bin1邊go3個tung1通fung1風bou3報seon3訊waa6話ngo5我teng1聽㗎？

Who leaked the information to me?

keoi5佢dei6哋tung1通fung1風bou3報seon3訊，ling3令ngo5我dei6哋zuk1捉m4唔dou3到jan4人。

They tipped them off, so we couldn't catch anyone.

Common phrases

tung1通fung1風bou3報seon3訊ge3嘅jan4人

the person who tipped them off

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply telling someone news. It specifically implies a clandestine or unauthorized disclosure intended to give someone an unfair advantage or a heads up to escape detection.