loi4 lou6 bat1 ming4來路不明来路不明
Jyutpingloi4 lou6 bat1 ming4
Yalelòih louh bāt mìhng
Definition
Of unknown origin, applied to people or things.
colloquialpeoplefood
How it's used
Often used to describe goods or food that might be counterfeit, unsafe, or smuggled. It carries a strong connotation of suspicion or caution, implying that the item or person lacks a reliable background or pedigree. While it can apply to people, it is most frequently used to warn others about suspicious objects or food products.
Examples
Don't just eat things of unknown origin like this.
He brought someone of unknown origin home, which is very dangerous.
Related words
Common phrases
goods of unknown origin
a suspicious person
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person you simply do not know yet, as it implies they are suspicious or potentially dangerous rather than just a stranger.
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.
