ji5 bui3耳背
Jyutpingji5 bui3
Yaleyíh bui
Definition
Hard of hearing; having bad hearing.
colloquialbodyhealth
How it's used
Often used to describe the elderly, this term implies a gradual loss of hearing rather than a sudden medical condition. It carries a slightly informal tone and is frequently used in casual conversation to explain why someone might have missed a comment or instruction. It is not considered offensive when used to describe age related hearing loss, but using it to tease someone who is simply not paying attention can be rude.
Examples
Grandpa has bad hearing, you need to speak louder.
Related words
Common phrases
very hard of hearing
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal back of the ear, which is also written as 耳背. Context is key, as the physical body part is a noun while the hearing condition is an adjective.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
