ke1 le1茄喱
Jyutpingke1 le1
Yalekē lē
Definition
An unimportant person, extra, or minor character.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Originating from the English word "coolie", this term is almost exclusively used to describe background actors or bit-part players in film and television. It carries a self-deprecating or dismissive tone when applied to people in real life, implying someone is insignificant or has no real influence in a situation. You will frequently hear it as 茄喱啡, which is the full version of the term.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is just an extra in that movie.
Do you think you are the main character? Just behave yourself as an extra.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a food-related term because of the character 茄, which is used in 茄子 for eggplant. It has no connection to vegetables and is purely a loanword for a minor role.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
