maai4埋

Jyutpingmaai4

Yalemàaih

形容詞Very common

Definition

Intimate, close, or physically near in a relationship.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This usage of 埋 describes a sense of closeness or intimacy in a relationship, distinct from its common roles as a verb suffix or a preposition meaning 'near' or 'together'. It implies a level of familiarity or emotional bond that goes beyond just being acquaintances. You will often hear it used when people speculate about whether two friends have started dating.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個ping4平si4時haang4行dak1得hou2好maai4埋㗎。

The two of them are usually very close.

nei5你tung4同keoi5佢gei2幾si4時bin3變dak1得gam3咁maai4埋aa3呀？

When did you and them become so close?

Common phrases

haang4行dak1得hou2好maai4埋

to be very close

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the spatial meaning of 埋, which often appears in phrases like 坐埋一邊 meaning 'sit to one side'. When used as an adjective for intimacy, it specifically describes the depth of a relationship rather than physical proximity.