pei4 soeng3皮相
Jyutpingpei4 soeng3
Yalepèih seung
Definition
Superficial; shallow; only looking at the surface appearance.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the outward appearance or surface level of a person or object, often implying that the true nature or quality is hidden underneath. It carries a slightly critical or philosophical tone, suggesting that one should look deeper than the surface. It is more formal than simply saying表面.
Examples
Don't judge people just by their superficial appearance.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with physical skin conditions or literal skin, as it is almost exclusively used in a metaphorical sense to describe shallow judgment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
