laa2 maai4揦埋
Jyutpinglaa2 maai4
Yalelá màaih
Definition
To scrunch or crumple up; to gather together.
- to scrunch or crumple up, especially of one's face in a grimace or frown
- to gather or pack things together
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
This term carries a sense of casual, sometimes messy, grouping or gathering. When used for facial expressions, it specifically describes the act of scrunching up one's face, often due to displeasure or pain. It is rarely used in formal writing and is best reserved for informal, spoken contexts.
Examples
Just throw all the clothes together and wash them.
Why is he making a sad face and looking so unhappy?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 攞, which means to take or get. While they sound somewhat similar to non-native speakers, 揦 implies a physical gathering or a facial contortion, whereas 攞 is strictly about possession or retrieval.
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.
