tung1 tin1通天
Jyutpingtung1 tin1
Yaletūng tīn
Definition
To be leaked or widely known; for a secret to be exposed to many people.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the transition of information from private to public knowledge, often implying that the secret was leaked unintentionally or against the owner's wishes. It carries a sense of finality, suggesting that once something has reached this stage, there is no way to contain it anymore. The suffix 晒 is frequently added to emphasize that the news has spread completely.
Examples
The matter is known to everyone, they all know now.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of reaching the sky. It is strictly used for information or secrets spreading, not for physical objects or people moving to a high place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
