fei1 si6飛士飞士
Jyutpingfei1 si6
Yalefēi sih
Definition
Face, dignity, prestige, or reputation.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Derived from the English word "face," this term functions similarly to 面子 in Mandarin but carries a distinctly informal, Cantonese flavor. It is frequently used in social contexts where someone's pride or public standing is at stake. You will often hear it paired with verbs like 畀 or 冇 to describe the act of granting or losing social respect.
Examples
He really has no dignity acting like that.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the English word "face" in a physical sense, as it strictly refers to social standing or reputation. It is also less formal than the standard term 面子, so avoid using it in professional or highly formal settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
