hon3 cai4看齊看齐
Jyutpinghon3 cai4
Yalehon chàih
Definition
To keep up with, emulate, or match the level or standard of someone or something else.
colloquialworkdescriptions
How it's used
While 看齊 is understood in Cantonese, speakers frequently use the colloquial variant 睇齊 in everyday speech. It implies an active effort to match a standard or benchmark set by someone else. It is often used in professional or competitive contexts to express a desire for parity.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple comparison, but it specifically denotes an aspirational goal to reach the same level as a superior entity. It is not used for casual comparisons of physical traits or simple status.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
