lai6矖
Jyutpinglai6
Yalelaih
Definition
To look from a distance.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This verb specifically describes the act of looking or peering from a distance, often implying a sense of curiosity or trying to spot something far away. It is frequently used in colloquial speech when someone is squinting or straining their eyes to see a distant object or person. Unlike general verbs for looking, it carries a nuance of physical effort or focus directed toward a faraway point.
Examples
He stood on the hilltop and looked down.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 曬, which is a homophone in many contexts but refers to sunbathing or drying things in the sun. Ensure you use the correct character for the action of looking.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
