pei1披
Jyutpingpei1
Yalepēi
Definition
To drape or place a piece of clothing over one's shoulders.
colloquialclothingdaily actions
How it's used
Unlike the general verb 著 which implies putting your arms into sleeves, 披 specifically describes draping something over the shoulders without necessarily using the sleeves. It is often used when the weather is slightly chilly and you just want an extra layer for warmth without fully dressing up. You will frequently hear it used with the particle 返 to suggest putting something back on or adding it as an extra layer.
Examples
She walked out with a coat draped over her shoulders.
Related words
Common phrases
put a jacket back on over one's shoulders
Common mistake
Do not use 披 for putting on clothes that require inserting arms into sleeves, such as a t-shirt or trousers. Using it in those contexts sounds unnatural as it strictly refers to the action of draping over the shoulders.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
