lai6儷俪
Jyutpinglai6
Yalelaih
Definition
A couple, particularly a husband and wife; companion or spouse.
writtenpeoplefamily
How it's used
Literary and formal in nature, this term is rarely used in casual daily conversation. It often appears in written contexts or formal announcements to describe a pair of spouses in an elegant or poetic manner. Using it in a standard shop or restaurant setting will sound highly unnatural or overly dramatic.
Examples
Are you two looking for your spouses to join?
Related words
Common phrases
a couple (often used in photography or formal descriptions)
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with everyday terms like 老公 or 老婆, as using 儷 in a casual setting sounds like you are reading from a classical novel. It is almost never used as a direct address to a spouse.
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.
