tai2 m4 hei2睇唔起
Jyutpingtai2 m4 hei2
Yaletái m̀h héi
Definition
To look down on; to despise or undervalue someone.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This phrase carries a strong sense of moral superiority and arrogance. It is frequently used to describe someone who judges others based on social status, wealth, or perceived intelligence. Unlike simply disliking someone, this implies a deliberate act of devaluing their worth.
Examples
He always looks down on the grassroots employees.
Related words
Common phrases
to look down on others
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 睇唔到, which literally means cannot see. Ensure the 唔 is placed between 睇 and 起 to maintain the meaning of despising, otherwise the sentence will sound like you are physically unable to see something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



