ziu3 zik6照直
Jyutpingziu3 zik6
Yalejiu jihk
Definition
To express or act straightforwardly without beating around the bush.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the removal of social filters or hesitation when communicating. It implies a sense of honesty and transparency that values efficiency over politeness. When someone asks you to 照直講, they are explicitly giving you permission to bypass the usual Cantonese tendency to soften requests or criticisms.
Examples
If you are unhappy about anything, just tell me straight.
He is a very straightforward person and always speaks his mind.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 坦白, which carries a stronger connotation of confessing a secret or admitting to a mistake. Use 照直 when you want to emphasize the directness of your delivery, rather than the moral weight of the truth being told.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
