dong3 keoi5 mou5 lei4當佢冇嚟当渠冇嚟
Jyutpingdong3 keoi5 mou5 lei4
Yaledong kéuih móuh lèih
Definition
To pretend that someone did not come; to ignore someone on purpose.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This phrase is a common way to express social avoidance or deliberate exclusion. It functions as a directive to ignore someone's presence or existence in a specific situation, often used when someone is being annoying or unwelcome. It carries a dismissive tone, suggesting that the person is not worth your time or reaction.
Examples
What he said was awful, just pretend he didn't come.
If you see him there, can you just pretend he didn't come?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to translate this literally as ignoring someone, but it specifically refers to the act of pretending someone is not physically present. It is not used for ignoring a message or a phone call, which would typically involve 唔理.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
