faan1 hoi1 lai4返開嚟返开嚟
Jyutpingfaan1 hoi1 lai4
Yalefāan hōi làih
Definition
To come back over here, or to return to this side.
colloquialdaily actionsplaces
How it's used
This phrase combines the verb 返, the aspect marker 開, and the directional verb 嚟 to describe a movement returning to the speaker's current location. It implies a sense of routine or a return to a familiar place where the speaker is situated. It is frequently used when someone is in the middle of a journey back to the speaker's vicinity.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simple return verbs like 返嚟. Using 開 adds a nuance of returning to a habitual or expected place, so it sounds unnatural if used for a one-off, unexpected return to a location where the speaker does not normally reside.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
