pei2 ji4鄙夷
Jyutpingpei2 ji4
Yalepéi yìh
Definition
To look down on, despise, or show contempt towards someone.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Expresses a strong sense of superiority and social disdain, often implying that the person being looked down upon is beneath one's own status. It is more formal and literary than the common spoken term 睇唔起. While it appears in written media, it is also used in speech to describe a very specific, cold, and judgmental facial expression or attitude.
Examples
He always looks at people with a contemptuous gaze.
Related words
Common phrases
a look of contempt
a contemptuous attitude
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, friendly settings as it carries a heavy, serious tone of moral or social judgment. It is not a casual way to say you dislike someone, but rather a way to describe a look or attitude of deep condescension.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
