baak6 ngaan5白眼

Jyutpingbaak6 ngaan5

Yalebaahk ngáahn

動詞Common

Definition

The white of the eye shown when rolling one's eyes, representing scorn or disdain.

the white of the eyes shown when rolling them
a look of scorn, disdain, or contempt

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How it's used

Focuses on the social rejection or disdain received from others rather than the physical act of rolling one's eyes. It is almost exclusively used in the passive construction 俾人白眼 to describe the feeling of being unwelcome or judged. It carries a strong sense of being treated as an outsider or someone inferior.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日dou1都bei2俾jan4人baak6白ngaan5眼，jan1因wai6為keoi5佢gong2講je5嘢hou2好mou2冇lai5禮maau6貌。

He is always being looked down upon because he is very rude when he speaks.

nei5你zou6做co3錯je5嘢zung6仲soeng2想jan4人dei6哋bat1唔zeon2俾baak6白ngaan5眼nei5你aa4呀？

You did something wrong and still expect people not to give you the cold shoulder?

Common phrases

bei2俾jan4人baak6白ngaan5眼

to be treated with disdain

sau6受baak6白ngaan5眼

to endure cold looks

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for the physical action of rolling eyes, but in Cantonese, it specifically refers to the reception of scornful treatment from others. Do not use it as a verb to describe your own action of rolling eyes at someone.