wai1 hip3威脅威胁
Jyutpingwai1 hip3
Yalewāi hip
Definition
Threat or menace; actions that openly infringe on another to put them in danger.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Often used in formal contexts like news reports or legal discussions, but frequently appears in everyday arguments when someone feels intimidated. It functions as both a verb and a noun, making it versatile for describing both active intimidation and abstract dangers.
Examples
Don't you dare use these things to threaten me.
Is his behavior a kind of threat to everyone?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe simple annoyance or minor pressure, as it carries a strong connotation of danger or harm that goes beyond just being bothered.
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.
