hau6 bei6後備后备
Jyutpinghau6 bei6
Yalehauh beih
Definition
Reserve, backup, or substitute materials or personnel kept ready in case of need.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Focuses on items or people kept in readiness for emergencies or as replacements. It is commonly used for physical objects like keys, batteries, or tires, but can also refer to a backup person or plan. Unlike the more formal 備用, this term feels slightly more practical and immediate in daily life.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I brought a backup battery out with me.
Do you have a spare key?
Related words
Common phrases
spare key
backup plan
spare battery
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person who is a romantic backup or a casual dating option, as it can sound dehumanizing or overly transactional in a social context.
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.
