bei2 seoi3畀稅畀税
Jyutpingbei2 seoi3
Yalebéi seui
Definition
To pay tax.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Using 畀稅 is the standard way to talk about paying taxes in daily life, whereas the more formal term 繳稅 is reserved for official documents or news reports. The verb 畀 is extremely versatile and functions as the primary way to express giving or paying anything in Cantonese. It carries a slightly more casual, direct tone than the formal 繳.
Examples
I have to pay taxes again this year, it really hurts my wallet.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 畀 with the Mandarin 給. While they share similar functions, 畀 is strictly used in Cantonese contexts and should not be used in formal written Chinese where 繳 or 付 would be expected.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
