zok3 daai6作大
Jyutpingzok3 daai6
Yalejok daaih
Definition
To exaggerate, boast, or embellish the truth.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the act of inflating facts or embellishing details rather than telling a complete fabrication. It carries a slightly playful or dismissive tone, often used when someone is trying to make a story sound more exciting or impressive than it actually was. It is less severe than accusing someone of lying, which would be 講大話.
Examples
Stop exaggerating all the time, it really wasn't that dramatic.
He always likes to embellish his stories, just take what he says with a grain of salt.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 吹水, which is more about casual chatting or bragging without necessarily intending to deceive or inflate a specific event. 作大 implies a deliberate distortion of a specific set of facts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
