埋（完成）

Finish Off the Rest

Level 3Sounds Like maai4

Verb + 埋 (maai4) = 'Finish off the rest' or 'Wrap up the remainder.'

How It Works

In Cantonese, 埋 (maai4) is a versatile verbal suffix. While it can mean 'also' or 'closer,' its completive function is essential for natural speech. It specifically indicates finishing the remainder of a task.

1. The Nuance of 'The Rest'
Unlike 完 (jyun4), which simply means an action is finished, 埋 implies there was a specific leftover portion that is now being dealt with. It often carries a pragmatic sense of 'let's just get this last bit done.'

2. Sentence Structure
The particle is placed immediately after the verb:

  • Verb + 埋 + (Object)

If you want to emphasize that the action is already completed, you can follow it with the perfective marker 咗 (zo2), resulting in Verb + 埋 + 咗.

3. Common Usage with 啲 (di1)
Because 埋 deals with 'the rest' of something specific, it is very frequently paired with the plural/definite classifier 啲 (di1) to refer to 'the [remaining] things.'

4. Inclusion vs. Completion
Linguistically, this 'finishing' meaning is related to the 'additive' meaning (also/including). By finishing the rest, you are including the final portion into the completed whole.

Examples (5)

  1. 做埋呢份報告先去玩。

    Finish [the rest of] this report before going to play.

    Word by Word: Do finish this piece report first go play.

    Here, 埋 (maai4) implies the speaker is currently working on the report and wants to finish the remaining part.

  2. 飲埋杯茶先走啦。

    Finish your tea before you leave.

    Word by Word: Drink finish cup tea first leave [particle].

    This suggests finishing the last few sips of the tea already in the cup.

  3. 我食埋呢啖就去洗碗。

    I'll just finish this mouthful and then go wash the dishes.

    Word by Word: I eat finish this mouthful then go wash bowl.

    埋 (maai4) is used here to show the very last bit of the meal is being consumed.

  4. 等埋我呀！

    Wait for me [too]!

    Word by Word: Wait finish me [particle]!

    This bridges the 'also' and 'finish' meanings—it asks the group to include the speaker as the final person before they all leave.

  5. 佢睇埋咗嗰本書喇。

    He has finished off [the rest of] that book.

    Word by Word: He read finish [perfective] that book [particle].

    Combining 埋 (maai4) with 咗 (zo2) indicates the remaining part of the book has already been completed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 埋 for a brand new task that hasn't started.

    我聽日會埋嗰本書。
    我聽日會睇埋嗰本書。

    埋 (maai4) is a suffix, not a verb itself. Furthermore, you shouldn't use it for a task you haven't started yet; it implies finishing a 'remainder.'

  • Using 埋 (maai4) when you mean 'every single bit'.

    Different Meaning我食埋啲飯。
    我食晒啲飯。

    我食埋啲飯 is a normal sentence meaning you finish off the rest of the rice. For 'all of it, completely', use 晒 (saai3): 我食晒啲飯。 Use 埋 (maai4) when you are wrapping up the last bit.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

埋（完成）Level 3Finish Off the Rest

Learn This First

To understand '埋' as a completive particle meaning 'to finish off the rest', you first need to understand the basic structure of Cantonese verbal particles. It is also helpful to know how to use the plural classifier '啲' to specify the remaining items being finished, and the particle '啦' which often accompanies this pattern in commands or suggestions.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern