sei3 min6四面
Jyutpingsei3 min6
Yalesei mihn
Definition
All around; all sides; all directions.
colloquialdescriptionsplaces
How it's used
Often used to describe the physical environment or the feeling of being surrounded by something. While it literally refers to four sides, it is frequently used to mean everywhere or all directions in a general sense. It carries a slightly more descriptive or formal tone compared to the more common colloquial term 四圍.
Examples
Look all around you, can you not find the exit?
Related words
Common phrases
from all directions
isolated and under attack from all sides
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 四圍, which functions more like a location adverb meaning all over or everywhere. Using 四面 as a direct replacement for everywhere in every context can sound slightly stiff or unnatural.
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.
