wai4 gun1圍觀围观
Jyutpingwai4 gun1
Yalewàih gūn
Definition
To surround and watch an event; to gather as onlookers.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This term carries a slightly voyeuristic or passive connotation, often implying that the crowd is watching something unusual, chaotic, or even tragic. It is frequently used in news reports or casual gossip to describe the behavior of bystanders who stop to gawk at accidents or public disturbances.
Examples
What happened? Why are so many people gathering to watch?
They have been standing around watching for a long time and refuse to disperse.
Related words
Common phrases
to attract a crowd of onlookers
the crowd of onlookers
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 觀看, which is a neutral term for watching something like a movie or a performance. 圍觀 specifically requires the physical act of a crowd forming a circle or surrounding the subject of interest.
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.
