jyun2 keoi5婉拒
Jyutpingjyun2 keoi5
Yaleyún kéuih
Definition
To tactfully decline; to refuse indirectly or politely.
neutralcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
Carries a formal tone despite being a verb used in everyday speech. It implies a sense of social grace, suggesting that the speaker is trying to preserve the relationship while saying no. It is frequently used in professional or social settings where a direct 唔要 or 唔去 might sound too blunt or rude.
Examples
He tactfully declined the manager's kind offer.
How do you tactfully decline someone's invitation?
Related words
Common phrases
tactfully decline an invitation
tactfully decline a kind offer
Common mistake
Often confused with simply saying 拒絕, which is neutral and can sound quite harsh or cold. Using 婉拒 requires the speaker to provide a soft reason or a polite buffer, otherwise it sounds insincere.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
