bei2 jyu6比喻
Jyutpingbei2 jyu6
Yalebéi yuh
Definition
Metaphor or analogy; a rhetorical device comparing an abstract concept to something concrete.
neutralcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Using this term often involves the verb 打, creating the common phrase 打個比喻. It functions as a tool for simplification, specifically when trying to bridge the gap between a complex theory and a concrete, relatable scenario. Unlike formal writing where it might appear as a noun in a literary analysis, in daily speech it is almost exclusively used to request or introduce a clarifying comparison.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Give an analogy to explain it.
This metaphor is very fitting, I understand it immediately.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 譬如, which is a conjunction meaning for example. Remember that 比喻 is a noun referring to the act of comparing, while 譬如 is used to list items or scenarios.
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.
