Completed Action with '埋'

01

Indicating Completion

When attached to a verb, 埋 (maai4màaihmaai4) signifies finishing the remaining part of an action or completing it entirely. It often implies doing one last thing before moving on to something else.

• 你食埋啲飯先啦。

  nei5 sik6·maai4 di1 faan6 sin1 laa1.néih sihk·màaih dī faahn sīn lā.nei5 sik9·maai4 di1 faan6 sin1 laa1.

  Finish eating the rice first.

• 我做埋啲功課就去瞓覺。

  ngo5 zou6 maai4 di1 gung1·fo3 zau6 heoi3 fan3·gaau3.ngóh jouh màaih dī gūng·fo jauh heui fan·gaau.ngo5 dzou6 maai4 di1 gung1·fo3 dzau6 hoey3 fan3·gaau3.

  I'll go to sleep after I finish my homework.

• 不如我哋睇埋呢集電視先走？

  bat1·jyu4 ngo5·dei6 tai2 maai4 ni1 zaap6 din6·si6 sin1 zau2?bāt·yùh ngóh·deih tái màaih nī jaahp dihn·sih sīn jáu?bat7·jy4 ngo5·dei6 tai2 maai4 ni1 dzaap9 din6·si6 sin1 dzau2?

  How about we finish watching this episode of TV before we leave?

02

Gathering or Joining In

A second common use of 埋 (maai4màaihmaai4) is to indicate a sense of gathering, coming closer, or joining together. It implies closing a physical or metaphorical gap.

• 大家坐埋啲，唔好咁散。

  daai6·gaa1 co5 maai4 di1, m4·hou2 gam2 saan3.daaih·gā chóh màaih dī, m̀h·hóu gám saan.daai6·gaa1 tso5 maai4 di1, m4·hou2 gam2 saan3.

  Everyone sit closer together, don't be so spread out.

• 你都過嚟玩埋一份啦！

  nei5 dou1 gwo3·lai4 waan2·maai4 jat1 fan6 laa1!néih dōu gwo·làih wáan·màaih yāt fahn lā!nei5 dou1 gwo3·lai4 waan2·maai4 jat7 fan6 laa1!

  You should come over and join in the fun too!

In some fixed expressions, this meaning is extended. For example, 行埋 (haang4·maai4hàahng·màaihhaang4·maai4) is a common colloquial way to say two people have gotten together as a couple.

• 我聽講佢哋兩個行埋咗。

  ngo5 teng1·gong2 keoi5·dei6 loeng5 go3 hang4·maai4 zo2.ngóh tēng·góng kéuih·deih léuhng go hàhng·màaih jó.ngo5 teu1·gong2 koey5·dei6 loeng5 go3 hang4·maai4 dzo2.

  I heard that the two of them got together.

03

Sentence Structure

The structure is always Verb + 埋 (maai4màaihmaai4). If there is an object, it follows this pair.

Structure: Verb + 埋 (maai4màaihmaai4) + Object

• 閂埋度門吖，唔該。

  saan1·maai4 dou6 mun4 aa1, m4·goi1.sāan·màaih douh mùhn ā, m̀h·gōi.saan1·maai4 dou6 mun4 aa1, m4·goi1.

  Please shut the door.

• 我哋要清埋啲垃圾。

  ngo5·dei6 jiu3 cing1·maai4 di1 laap6·saap3.ngóh·deih yiu chīng·màaih dī laahp·saap.ngo5·dei6 jiu3 tsing1·maai4 di1 laap9·saap8.

  We need to clear up the rubbish.

04

Comparing '埋' and '完'

Both 埋 (maai4màaihmaai4) and 完 (jyun4yùhnjyn4) can mean "to finish," but they have different nuances.

完 (jyun4yùhnjyn4) is a neutral statement that an action has ended. It is a simple declaration of fact.

埋 (maai4màaihmaai4) emphasizes finishing the last part of something, often to clear the way for a subsequent action. It adds a sense of "finishing up".

Compare the following:

• 我食完飯喇。

  ngo5 sik6·jyun4 faan6 laa3.ngóh sihk·yùhn faahn la.ngo5 sik9·jyn4 faan6 laa3.

  I've finished eating. (A simple statement.)

• 我食埋碗飯就洗碗。

  ngo5 sik6·maai4 wun2 faan6 zau6 sai2 wun2.ngóh sihk·màaih wún faahn jauh sái wún.ngo5 sik9·maai4 wun2 faan6 dzau6 sai2 wun2.

  I'll wash the dishes after I finish up this bowl of rice. (Implies finishing the remaining food before starting the next task.)

• 我做完功課。

  ngo5 zou6·jyun4 gung1·fo3.ngóh jouh·yùhn gūng·fo.ngo5 dzou6·jyn4 gung1·fo3.

  I finished the homework. (The task is done.)

• 我做埋呢條數先。

  ngo5 zou6 maai4 ni1 tiu4 sou3 sin1.ngóh jouh màaih nī tìuh sou sīn.ngo5 dzou6 maai4 ni1 tiu4 sou3 sin1.

  Let me finish up this one calculation first. (Focuses on completing the final part before stopping or moving on.)