teoi3退
Jyutpingteoi3
Yaleteui
Definition
To move back, decline, recede, or decrease.
- to move back; to retreat; to recede
- to decline; to decrease; to fall; to subside
colloquialhealthdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the physical or abstract act of moving backward or diminishing in intensity. It is frequently used in medical contexts to describe the subsiding of symptoms like fevers or inflammation. When referring to retreating from a position or quitting a group, it often combines with other characters to form compound verbs.
Examples
There are so many people in front, let's move back a bit.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 褪, which is specifically used for colors fading or skin peeling. While they share similar sounds, they are not interchangeable in writing.
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.
