zi6 bei6自備自备
Jyutpingzi6 bei6
Yalejih beih
Definition
To bring or prepare something yourself.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Commonly seen on signs in shops or restaurants to indicate that items like shopping bags or utensils are not provided for free. It implies a sense of personal responsibility or a requirement for participation in an event. It is a concise, formal-leaning term that functions perfectly well in casual speech when discussing logistics.
Examples
You need to bring your own cutlery when going there.
Common phrases
bring your own cutlery
bring your own shopping bag
Common mistake
Avoid using it to mean preparing something for someone else, as the self-referential nature of the character 自 is strictly about the subject's own actions.
Grammar color guide
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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.
