kiu4 hei2翹起翘起
Jyutpingkiu4 hei2
Yalekìuh héi
Definition
To betray or sell someone out, causing them to suffer a major loss.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of sudden, cold-blooded abandonment or backstabbing, often implying a premeditated act to leave someone in a lurch. It is frequently used in business or criminal contexts where one party leaves another to face the consequences alone after a deal goes sour. The imagery evokes a sudden upward flick or shift, suggesting a sharp break in loyalty.
Examples
How could you betray me at a time like this?
The two of them teamed up to sell out their boss.
Related words
Common phrases
to betray someone completely in one go
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of 翹起, which describes an object being tilted or sticking up, such as a table leg or hair. Using it to describe a person's betrayal is highly specific to the context of breaking trust or abandoning a partner.
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.
