tai3 ngaan5 mei4剃眼眉
Jyutpingtai3 ngaan5 mei4
Yaletai ngáahn mèih
Definition
To insult, embarrass, or humiliate someone in public.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Originating from the literal act of shaving someone's eyebrows, this phrase carries a strong sense of public humiliation or deliberate undermining. It is specifically used when someone is made to look foolish or is openly challenged in front of others, often to damage their reputation or authority.
Examples
He embarrassed me in public, I really lost face.
Why did you have to insult him in front of everyone?
Related words
Common phrases
to embarrass someone in public
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe general teasing or lighthearted jokes, as it implies a serious, intentional act of causing someone to lose face.
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.
