mei1瞇
Jyutpingmei1
Yalemēi
Definition
To close one's eyes.
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
Native speakers almost always use the compound 瞇埋 to mean closing the eyes, as 瞇 on its own can sound incomplete or dialectal in some contexts. It specifically refers to the physical act of shutting the eyelids, often used in games like hide and seek or when asking someone to wait for a surprise.
Examples
Close your eyes and don't peek.
He closed his eyes and rested for a while.
Related words
Common phrases
to close one's eyes
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 瞇眼 which can sometimes imply squinting rather than fully closing the eyes, whereas 瞇埋 explicitly indicates the action of shutting them completely.
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.
