ceoi3覷觑
Jyutpingceoi3
Yalecheui
Definition
To look, watch, or stare.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
While 覷 carries the meaning of looking or watching, it often implies a sense of stealth, suspicion, or covetousness. It is frequently used to describe someone watching something with an ulterior motive or waiting for an opportunity to act. In standard daily speech, 睇 or 望 are much more common for neutral observation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral verb like 睇, but using it in a casual context to mean simply looking at a friend can sound overly intense or even predatory. It is best reserved for situations involving surveillance or greedy intent.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
