king1 teoi4傾頹倾颓
Jyutpingking1 teoi4
Yalekīng tèuih
Definition
To decline, decay, or weaken; to fall into ruin.
writtenother
How it's used
This term is formal and literary, primarily used in written contexts or when discussing historical, economic, or institutional decline. It carries a sense of gravity and structural collapse that goes beyond simple failure. You will rarely hear it in casual spoken Cantonese, where words like 衰落 or 搞唔掂 are preferred.
Examples
The company is poorly managed and has started to show signs of decline.
Seeing the family business failing, he feels very upset.
Related words
Common phrases
trend of decline
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe personal health or minor setbacks, as it implies a large scale or systemic breakdown. Learners often mistake it for a general word for 'bad' or 'broken', but it specifically refers to the process of falling apart or losing power.
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.
