maai4 lai4埋來埋来
Jyutpingmaai4 lai4
Yalemàaih làih
Definition
To come closer or approach.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Used primarily to invite someone to move into one's immediate physical space, often to share an object or join a conversation. It carries a friendly and informal tone, frequently heard from street vendors or when gathering friends together. It is distinct from simple movement verbs like 行過嚟 because it implies an invitation to participate or inspect something specific.
Examples
Everyone come over and sit down, don't be shy.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean simply arriving at a destination, as it specifically focuses on the act of approaching a person or a group. It is not a formal way to ask someone to come over, so it should be avoided in professional or highly polite settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
