dai6隸隶
Jyutpingdai6
Yaledaih
Definition
To belong to a higher authority, to be subordinate to.
writtenworkpeople
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal or legal contexts to describe hierarchical relationships. It is rarely used in casual speech outside of compound words like 隸屬 or 奴隸. When describing belonging or possession in daily life, speakers prefer using 屬於.
Examples
Which supervisor does this department report to?
They are managed by that parent company.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a general verb for belonging, but it sounds overly stiff and unnatural in everyday conversation. Stick to 屬於 for general situations.
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.
