leoi5裏里

Jyutpingleoi5

Yaleléuih

Very common

Definition

In, inside, or within; used to indicate a location.

colloquialplaces

How it's used

While 裏 is understood in writing, it is almost always pronounced and written as 入面 or 裡面 in spoken Cantonese. Using 裏 alone can sound slightly literary or formal, so adding 面 makes it sound more natural and conversational. It functions as a suffix to indicate a spatial interior rather than a standalone preposition.

Examples

go3個doi6袋leoi5裏min6面jau5有di1啲me1咩aa3呀？

What is inside the bag?

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日dou1都nei1匿喺hai2房fong2裏leoi5面。

He is always hiding inside his room.

Common phrases

sam1心leoi5裏min6面

in one's heart or mind

uk1屋leoi5裏min6面

inside the house

Common mistake

Learners often try to use 裏 like the English preposition 'in' by placing it before a noun, but it must follow the noun it modifies. You should always say 房裏面 instead of 裏房.