han6 sei2 gaak3 lei4恨死隔籬恨死隔篱
Jyutpinghan6 sei2 gaak3 lei4
Yalehahn séi gaak lèih
Definition
Extremely enviable; causing the neighbors to die of envy.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Literally translating to "envy the neighbor to death," this expression captures a sense of intense, often petty jealousy toward someone else's good fortune or possessions. It is frequently used in a lighthearted or hyperbolic way to comment on someone showing off or having something desirable. Unlike formal terms for envy, this phrase focuses on the social comparison aspect of seeing someone nearby succeed.
Examples
He bought a new car, it really makes everyone around so jealous!
Why are you so jealous of others? Just work harder and you will have it too.
Related words
Common phrases
really makes one so jealous
Common mistake
Avoid using this in serious or formal contexts, as it sounds very casual and can come across as mocking or overly dramatic. It is meant for informal banter among friends rather than expressing genuine resentment.
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.
