啓齒 [启齿]

Jyutping kai2 ci2
Pinyin qǐ chǐ

Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 動詞
    講一個​話題
    to bring up the matter; literally: to move one's teeth
    • 件事好尷尬，好難啓齒。
      件事好尴尬，好难启齿。
      gin6 si6 hou2 gaam3 gaai3, hou2 naan4 kai2 ci2.
      This is an embarrassing matter. It is difficult to bring it up.
  2. 近義詞
    開口
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    件事好尴尬，好难启齿。
    件事好尷尬，好難啓齒。
    gin6 si6 hou2 gaam3 gaai3, hou2 naan4 kai2 ci2.
    • This is an embarrassing matter. It is difficult to bring it up.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    拙夫意欲纳宠，真是眠思梦想，已非一日，惟恐夫人见怪，不敢启齿。
    拙夫意欲納寵，真是眠思夢想，已非一日，惟恐夫人見怪，不敢啓齒。
    zhuō fū yì yù nà chǒng ， zhēn shì mián sī mèng xiǎng ， yǐ fēi yī rì ， wéi kǒng fū rén jiàn guài ， bù gǎn qǐ chǐ ．
    • My husband desires to take a concubine, which has really bothered me in my thoughts and dreams for more than a day, but for fear that my lady would take offence, I did not dare open my mouth about this.