見面
To meet in Cantonese is expressed as 見面.
見面 is used when you come face to face with someone by arrangement. For different contexts, you may use other terms: 相識 is a versatile expression used to mean meeting or getting to know someone, while 會見 refers to a formal meeting or appointment, often in a business setting. If you are meeting someone of higher status or showing respect to someone important, use 拜會.
Meaning: to come face to face with someone by arrangement (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 見面 is a compound of 見, meaning to see and 面, meaning face.
Which one should you use?
While 見面 specifically refers to a planned meeting or seeing each other, the single character 見 is used more generally for the act of seeing or meeting.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 見面 is an intransitive verb and cannot take a direct object. You cannot say 'meet someone' using only this word.
Did you know?
- To express 'meeting by chance' rather than by arrangement, Cantonese speakers use 撞到, which literally translates to 'colliding with' someone.
- The formal term 拜會 contains the character 拜, which originally depicted a person bowing, reflecting the historical requirement to physically bow when meeting a superior.
- In Cantonese culture, the 'face' mentioned in 見面 is tied to the concept of 'saving face' 留面, where maintaining public dignity is as important as the meeting itself.
Examples in context
- 我批准你同佢見面。You have my permission to meet with him.This sentence shows how to grant permission to use 見面.Tatoeba #5943348 by nickyeow, translation #1104705 by jackloring
- 我哋卒之都見面喇！呢一刻等到我頸都長喇。So, we finally meet! I've waited so long for this moment.This sentence expresses the feeling of finally meeting someone after a long wait using 見面.Tatoeba #460826 by nickyeow, translation #30240 by Swift
- 我好想同你相識I really want to get to know you.
- 佢話今日睇下朋友He said he's meeting a friend today
- 我哋聽日可以見面。ngo5 dei6 ting1 jat6 ho2 ji5 gin3 min6.We can meet tomorrow.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding when to catch up at a cafe.
- 志強 Chi Keung曉彤，你想幾時見面？hiu2 tung4, nei5 soeng2 gei2 si4 gin3 min6?Hau Tung, when do you want to meet?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung下個禮拜六可以嗎？haa6 go3 lai5 baai3 lau6 ho2 maa5?Is next Saturday okay?
- 志強 Chi Keung冇問題，到時見！mou5 man6 tai4, dou3 si4 gin3!No problem, see you then!
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好呀，志強，拜拜。hou2 aa3, zi3 koeng4, baai1 baai1.Okay, Chi Keung, bye bye.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
