mai4 jyu5謎語谜语
Jyutpingmai4 jyu5
Yalemàih yúh
Definition
Riddle; a puzzle or word game designed for guessing answers.
colloquialother
How it's used
Riddles in Cantonese culture often rely on wordplay or puns that are specific to the language. When someone presents a riddle, they are inviting you to engage in a playful mental challenge rather than a serious test of knowledge. It is common to see these used during festive gatherings or as a way to pass time with friends.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the act of guessing a riddle with general guessing. Remember that for riddles, you specifically use the verb 估, but you must ensure the context clearly points to a puzzle rather than just making a random guess about a fact.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
