teoi1 ci4推辭推辞
Jyutpingteoi1 ci4
Yaletēui chìh
Definition
To reject or decline an invitation, gift, or appointment.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
Carries a formal and polite tone, making it suitable for professional or serious social contexts. It implies a sense of humility or modesty, often used when one feels unworthy of a gift or unable to fulfill a requested duty. Unlike more direct ways of saying no, this suggests a thoughtful process of turning something down.
Examples
He politely declined the invitation.
Why did you decline this good job offer?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday situations with close friends, as it sounds overly stiff or pretentious. For informal rejection, use 唔要 or 拒絕 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
