teoi1 zai1推擠推挤
Jyutpingteoi1 zai1
Yaletēui jāi
Definition
To push and squeeze past people, or to crowd and jostle one's way through.
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of jostling in a crowd, often implying a chaotic or uncomfortable situation. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is frequently replaced by the more common colloquial verb 逼 in everyday speech when describing crowded conditions.
Examples
The MTR is very crowded, everyone please don't push and shove.
They are pushing and squeezing at the door, making it impossible to get in.
Related words
Common phrases
push through a crowd
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the simple verb 逼, which describes the state of being crowded, whereas 推擠 specifically describes the active, often aggressive, physical movement of pushing against others.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
