pui4 hei2賠起赔起
Jyutpingpui4 hei2
Yalepùih héi
Definition
To be able to pay for damages, compensation, or debts.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This verb is a classic example of the potential complement structure in Cantonese, where the infix 唔 or 得 is placed between the verb 賠 and the resultative complement 起. It is almost exclusively used in negative or interrogative contexts to express financial inability or the sheer scale of a debt. It carries a strong sense of being overwhelmed by the cost of compensation.
Examples
I cannot afford to pay for this, you should find someone else.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin phrase 賠不起 which is used similarly, but in Cantonese, the focus is strictly on the ability to cover a specific cost or damage rather than a general sense of being unable to compensate someone.
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.
