pui4 can3陪襯陪衬
Jyutpingpui4 can3
Yalepùih chan
Definition
A foil or supporting role; something or someone used to highlight or set off the main subject.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe people or objects that are present but lack significance compared to the main focus. It carries a slightly passive or even self-deprecating tone when referring to a person who feels overshadowed. While it can apply to physical objects like accessories, it is most frequently used metaphorically for people in social or professional settings.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is just a supporting role in this movie.
Don't just be a background character, you need to shine yourself.
Related words
Common phrases
to act as a supporting role
purely for decoration or background
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 配角, which specifically refers to a supporting actor or character in a narrative. 陪襯 is broader and can describe anything or anyone that serves to make something else look better by comparison.
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.
