hei1 hei3嬉戲嬉戏
Jyutpinghei1 hei3
Yalehēi hei
Definition
To play together; to amuse oneself in a group.
writtendaily actionspeople
How it's used
Although this word describes the act of playing, it carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the everyday word 玩. It is frequently used in written contexts, news reports, or when describing children or animals in a more descriptive manner. In casual spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 玩 instead.
Examples
They are playing happily in the park.
Don't play around inside the classroom.
Related words
Common phrases
to play and have fun
Common mistake
Using this word in a very casual, intimate conversation can sound slightly stiff or overly dramatic. It is better to stick to 玩 for daily interactions with friends and family.
Grammar color guide
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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).
