lau4 bei6劉備刘备
Jyutpinglau4 bei6
Yalelàuh beih
Definition
Liu Bei, the founder of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Beyond his historical role, Liu Bei is culturally synonymous with the archetype of a benevolent but overly emotional leader. In Cantonese, his name is frequently invoked in the idiom 劉備借荊州, which describes a situation where someone borrows something with no intention of returning it. He is often contrasted with 曹操, who represents cunning and ruthlessness in the popular imagination.
Examples
He is just like Liu Bei, always liking to cry.
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
