san4 bei3神秘
Jyutpingsan4 bei3
Yalesàhn bei
Definition
Mysterious, mystical, or kept secret; difficult to know or understand.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Use this word to describe things that are intentionally kept secret or situations that are genuinely baffling. It often carries a slightly dramatic or intriguing tone, making it perfect for describing someone's behavior or an unexplained event. Unlike some formal terms, it fits perfectly into casual conversation when you want to emphasize that something is hidden from view or understanding.
Examples
He is a mysterious person and rarely speaks.
This place is a bit mysterious, do you know what happened?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe things that are simply 'unknown' or 'unfamiliar' in a mundane sense, as it implies a sense of secrecy or an aura of the unknown that is meant to be kept that way.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
