出面
ceot1 min6
The Cantonese word for "outside" is 出面 (ceot1 min6).
出面 can mean "outdoors" in a general sense, but it is frequently used to refer to the area immediately outside a specific building or room.
Meaning: outdoors (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the verb 出 (ceot1), meaning "to go out" and 面 (min6), meaning "face" or "surface/side".
Which one should you use?
The antonym of 出面 is 入面 (jap6 min6), which literally means "inside" or "within".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Hong Kong and Macau dialect, the phrase 出街 (ceot1 gaai1) is used to mean "to go out" or "leaving the house".
How do you pronounce it?
ceot1 min6
Did you know?
- If you use the word 面 (min6) to mean 'surface', you might be surprised to learn that it is also used in Cantonese to refer to one's 'face' or 'reputation', creating a conceptual link between physical surfaces and social standing.
- While 出面 means 'outside', if you are talking about the 'outside world' or 'society', Cantonese speakers often use 出面 to imply the social sphere one enters once they leave the private home.
- The word 出 (ceot1) can function as a verb in many Cantonese phrases to indicate not just physical movement, but also the emergence of a new product or the beginning of a new trend.
Examples in context
- 食煙唔該去出面食吖。If you are going to smoke, please go outside.This sentence is useful for requesting that someone go outside to smoke.Tatoeba #452567 by nickyeow, translation #38723 by CK
- 我想出街買點食物。I want to go out and buy some food.
- 外頭好熱呀！It's so hot outside!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Hiu Tung are deciding where to eat lunch.
- 家明 Ka Ming天氣咁好，我哋去出面食飯啦。tin1 hei3 gam3 hou2, ngo5 dei6 heoi3 chut1 min6 sik6 faan2 laa1.The weather is so nice, let's eat outside.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好呀，出面應該好舒服。hou2 aa3, chut1 min6 jing1 goi1 hou2 syu1 fuk6.Sure, it should be very comfortable outside.
- 家明 Ka Ming我想喺出面嗰張枱坐。ngo5 soeng2 hai2 chut1 min6 go2 zoeng1 toi2 co5.I want to sit at that table outside.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung冇問題，我哋快啲行去出面啦。mou5 man6 tai4, ngo5 dei6 faai3 di1 haang4 heoi3 chut1 min6 laa1.No problem, let's head outside quickly.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
