mei1 maai4 ngaan5瞇埋眼眯埋眼
Jyutpingmei1 maai4 ngaan5
Yalemēi màaih ngáahn
Definition
To close one's eyes; also used figuratively to mean to pass away.
- to close one's eyes
- figurativeto pass away; to die
colloquialbodydaily actions
How it's used
This phrase is the standard way to describe the physical act of shutting one's eyelids in daily life. It is often used in games like hide and seek or when asking someone to rest. While it can metaphorically refer to passing away, it is not a common or polite way to discuss death in most social contexts.
Examples
Close your eyes, you are not allowed to peek.
He closed his eyes to rest for a while.
Related words
Common phrases
close eyes to rest
close eyes to sleep
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 閉眼, which is a formal written term. Using 閉眼 in casual conversation will sound unnatural and overly stiff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
