bat6 dei6 ji4 hei2拔地而起
Jyutpingbat6 dei6 ji4 hei2
Yalebaht deih yìh héi
Definition
To rise abruptly out of the ground, especially of mountains or tall buildings.
neutraldescriptionsplaces
How it's used
Describes structures or mountains that appear suddenly and vertically without a gradual slope. It carries a sense of visual impact or surprise, often used in architectural or geographical descriptions to emphasize height and suddenness. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to describe rapid urban development.
Examples
That building rose abruptly from the ground, looking like a giant.
This place used to be flat land, why did a building suddenly rise up here?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this for things that grow slowly, like a tree or a child, as the term specifically implies a dramatic, almost architectural emergence from the ground.
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.
