leoi5侶侣
Jyutpingleoi5
Yaleléuih
Definition
Companion, partner, or associate.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme rather than a standalone noun in modern spoken Cantonese. It almost always appears in compound words like 情侶 or 伴侶 to denote a romantic or life partner. Using it by itself to mean friend or companion sounds archaic or overly literary.
Examples
They are a very loving couple.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 侶 as a direct translation for friend or companion in casual conversation. Use 朋友 or 同伴 instead to avoid sounding like you are reading from a classical poem.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
