zaa3 dai3詐諦诈谛
Jyutpingzaa3 dai3
Yaleja dai
Definition
To pretend, fake, or feign.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Carries a slightly more mischievous or calculated nuance than the generic 扮. It often implies a deliberate attempt to deceive others for personal gain or to avoid an awkward situation. While 扮 is versatile and can be used for anything from dressing up to faking an emotion, 詐諦 specifically focuses on the act of feigning ignorance or a false state of mind.
Examples
He pretended not to know, but actually he saw everything early on.
Why are you pretending not to hear what I am saying?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 扮嘢, which is a broader term for acting fake or showing off. Use 詐諦 when someone is specifically acting as if they are unaware or unaffected by something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
