bei6 fung1 tau4避風頭避风头
Jyutpingbei6 fung1 tau4
Yalebeih fūng tàuh
Definition
To lie low or leave a place to hide from trouble or avoid being caught.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Originally a nautical term describing ships seeking shelter from strong winds, this expression now carries a strong connotation of evading negative attention or consequences. It is frequently used in contexts involving legal trouble, scandals, or social conflicts. The phrase implies a temporary withdrawal rather than a permanent escape.
Examples
He got into trouble recently and went abroad to lie low.
You did something wrong, are you planning to lie low?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simply hiding from someone, but it specifically refers to waiting for a tense situation or public scrutiny to blow over.
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.
