zuk6 haak3逐客
Jyutpingzuk6 haak3
Yalejuhk haak
Definition
To expel guests, drive away visitors, or evict tenants.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Often used in a metaphorical sense to describe subtle social cues that signal someone to leave, such as checking the time or cleaning up the table. While it carries a slightly formal or literary weight, it is frequently employed in casual conversation to describe the feeling of being unwelcome. It implies a deliberate action to end a visit rather than just a natural conclusion.
Examples
He keeps checking his watch, as if he wants to kick us out.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simple asking someone to leave, as it carries a stronger connotation of expulsion or forced departure. It is rarely used in a neutral or polite context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
