kei5 ding6企定
Jyutpingkei5 ding6
Yalekéih dihng
Definition
To stand still or remain standing in one place without moving.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of remaining stationary, often used as a command or a request for someone to stop fidgeting. It implies a sense of firmness or stability, making it common when giving instructions to children or when someone is being photographed. Unlike simply saying 企, adding 定 emphasizes the state of being fixed in one position.
Examples
Stand still right there and don't move.
Can you stand a bit stiller when taking the photo?
Common phrases
to stand perfectly still
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 企開, which means to stand aside or move out of the way, rather than standing still.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
