zaak3責责
Jyutpingzaak3
Yalejaak
Definition
Duty, responsibility, or liability; something one is responsible for.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or legal contexts, such as 責任 or 刑責, rather than in casual conversation. When speaking colloquially about taking responsibility, Cantonese speakers prefer using the phrase 孭飛 instead. It functions as a morpheme that carries a weight of seriousness and accountability.
Examples
You must take full responsibility for this matter.
He did something wrong, why do I have to be responsible?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a standalone verb in daily speech, but it sounds unnatural outside of formal or professional settings. Use 孭飛 for everyday situations involving personal accountability.
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.
