wai4 dou2圍堵围堵
Jyutpingwai4 dou2
Yalewàih dóu
Definition
To besiege, surround, or block up an exit.
neutralother
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of tactical or hostile containment, often implying a deliberate effort to prevent escape. While it can be used in physical contexts like police operations, it is also frequently used metaphorically in news or political discussions to describe isolating an opponent or a specific area.
Examples
The police blocked off the exit.
Are you guys trying to surround and trap him?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 圍住, which is a more general term for simply standing around or encircling someone. 圍堵 specifically emphasizes the blocking of an exit or the prevention of movement, making it more aggressive or strategic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
