pui4 lai5賠禮赔礼
Jyutpingpui4 lai5
Yalepùih láih
Definition
To apologize or make amends to someone according to proper etiquette.
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Carries a slightly more formal or deliberate tone than the everyday word 道歉. It implies a sense of social obligation or restoring harmony through a gesture, often used when someone has caused a significant inconvenience or offense. While it functions as a verb, it is frequently paired with 道歉 to emphasize the act of making amends.
Examples
You did something wrong, go apologize to them quickly.
He did wrong, why is he unwilling to apologize?
Related words
Common phrases
to offer a formal apology
Common mistake
Do not use this word for minor, casual slips like bumping into someone on the street, where a simple 唔好意思 is expected. It is reserved for situations that require a more serious or formal acknowledgment of fault.
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.
