wui4 bei6迴避回避
Definition
To make way for important people, or to avoid contact and confrontation to prevent embarrassment or conflict of interest.
- to make way for important or noble people
- to avoid contact or confrontation to prevent suspicion or embarrassment
How it's used
Historically, this term implies a formal or ritualistic act of clearing a path for someone of high social status or authority. In modern Hong Kong, it is rarely used in daily life to mean simply moving out of someone's way, as that is usually expressed by 讓路 or 行開. It now carries a slightly formal, dramatic, or even sarcastic tone when used in casual conversation.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common meaning of avoiding a topic or responsibility, which is also written as 迴避. In a social context, using this word might sound like you are treating the person as royalty or an official, which can come across as overly formal or mocking.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
