zi1 dai2知底
Jyutpingzi1 dai2
Yalejī dái
Definition
To know the inside story, the background, or the details of a situation or person.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Often used in the context of uncovering secrets or hidden motives behind a person or situation. It carries a slightly investigative or conspiratorial tone, implying that the information is not meant for public knowledge. It is frequently paired with verbs like 摸 or 探 to describe the act of finding out these hidden details.
Examples
His background is very mysterious, nobody knows the inside story.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with knowing someone well in a friendly sense. It specifically refers to knowing hidden, often sensitive or potentially damaging, information about someone or something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
