zaak3 mou4 pong4 taai3責無旁貸责无旁贷
Jyutpingzaak3 mou4 pong4 taai3
Yalejaak mòuh pòhng taai
Definition
To be duty-bound; to have an inescapable responsibility that cannot be passed to others.
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How it's used
This idiom carries a formal and serious tone, often appearing in news reports, professional settings, or heated arguments where accountability is being demanded. It is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation because it implies a heavy moral or professional obligation that cannot be avoided. Using it in a trivial context can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Examples
You are duty-bound for this matter, don't even think about shirking the responsibility.
As the person in charge, do you feel you are duty-bound?
Related words
Common phrases
inescapable responsibility
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it functions as an adjective or predicate describing a person's state of obligation. It is not used to describe a task itself, but rather the person who is responsible for that task.
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.
