ming4 lei6名利
Jyutpingming4 lei6
Yalemìhng leih
Definition
Fame and wealth; reputation and fortune.
neutralpeoplemoney
How it's used
Often used in contexts discussing the vanity or emptiness of worldly pursuits. It carries a slightly cynical or philosophical tone, suggesting that these things are transient or potentially corrupting. It is almost always treated as a compound noun representing a singular concept of worldly success.
Examples
He spent his whole life chasing fame and wealth, but in the end, it was all for nothing.
Do you really think fame and wealth are that important?
Related words
Common phrases
to gain both fame and fortune
to be indifferent to fame and wealth
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.
