be1睥
Jyutpingbe1
Yalebē
Definition
To stare at or glare at someone with hostility, anger, or disdain.
colloquialpeoplebody
How it's used
Carries a strong connotation of hostility or disdain, often implying that the person staring is looking for trouble or judging someone negatively. It is almost exclusively used in confrontational contexts rather than neutral observation. When someone asks you why you are staring, they will often use this word to challenge your intent.
Examples
What are you staring at? Haven't you seen a person before?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the neutral act of looking, such as 睇. Using 睥 implies an aggressive or rude attitude, so it is inappropriate to use when you are simply watching or observing something calmly.
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.
