kwai4睽
Jyutpingkwai4
Yalekwàih
Definition
To stare at; also used in terms referring to separation or being apart.
- to stare at; to look with wide eyes
- literaryto be separated; to depart from
writtenother
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively found in formal or literary contexts, particularly in the set phrase 睽違. It is rarely used in everyday spoken Cantonese to describe physical separation or staring. You will mostly encounter it in written announcements or formal news reports regarding long absences or differences in opinion.
Examples
They haven't seen each other for a long time, it really has been a long separation.
Related words
Common phrases
long separation
Common mistake
Do not use this in casual conversation to mean 'separated' or 'staring'. For physical separation, use 分開 or 隔開, and for staring, use 望 or 瞪.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
