wai2 paai3委派
Jyutpingwai2 paai3
Yalewái paai
Definition
To appoint or delegate someone to a post, task, or duty.
neutralwork
How it's used
Carries a formal and professional tone, typically used in corporate or organizational settings. It implies a top-down delegation of authority or specific duties rather than a casual request. It is rarely used in informal social contexts where words like 叫 or 搵 would be more natural.
Examples
The boss appointed him to handle this business deal.
Were you appointed to be in charge of this project?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it for casual requests between friends or family members, which sounds overly stiff and bureaucratic. It is strictly reserved for professional or official assignments.
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.
