wai4 faat3違法违法
Jyutpingwai4 faat3
Yalewàih faat
Definition
To break the law; to be illegal.
neutralother
How it's used
Often used in formal contexts or news reports, this term carries a serious tone compared to casual expressions like 犯法. While it functions as a verb, it is frequently used as an adjective to describe actions or situations that contravene regulations. It is the standard term for legal discussions or official warnings.
Examples
He was arrested by the police for breaking the law.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 犯法, which is more commonly used in everyday speech to describe the act of committing a crime. While they are interchangeable in many contexts, 違法 is slightly more clinical and detached.
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.
