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嘞

Mandarin · pinyin lei

sentence-final particle similar to 了 le, but carrying a tone of approval

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嘞: lei · (Cant.) final particle used for polite refusal

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

5 · lei5

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 12 senses · 3 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

la3 · laak3 · lak3

Cantonese word readings for 嘞. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

used in 嘞嘞

character · Etymology 2

Alternative pronunciation of 了 (“used at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state”).
Alternative pronunciation of 了 (“used at the end of a sentence to inform the beginning of an action”).
Alternative pronunciation of 了 (“used at the end of a sentence to demand”).
Alternative pronunciation of 哩 (“sentence-final particle indicating continuation of an action or state”).
Alternative pronunciation of 哩 (“used to stress a declaration”).
Alternative pronunciation of 哩 (“a question-forming particle”).

character · Etymology 3

(Cantonese) final particle used for polite refusal
(Cantonese) Used at the end of a sentence for confirmation.

verb · Etymology 4

(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien, intransitive) to weaken (of one's intent, vigor, etc.)
(Quanzhou and Xiamen Hokkien) underweight (of something weighed)

character · Etymology 5

(Shunde Cantonese) great-grandson

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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