<p>Since you mentioned it was hard to get the gist of, I thought I'd add the entry from ABC:</p>
<p><strong>ABC Cantonese</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>喺一齊</strong><br />
hai2 maai4 jat1 cai4</p>
<p>VERB PHRASE<br />
to be together with someone, get together with someone</p>
<p>我哋有冇可能喺一齊?我想知道你點諗<br />
ngo5 dei6 jau5 mou5 ho2 nang4 hai2 maai4 jat1 cai4, ngo5 soeng2 zi1 dou3 nei5 dim2 nam2<br />
Do we have a chance to be together? I want to know what you think</p>
<p>Notes: can have a sexual connotation</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The entry for [maai4] in ABC Cantonese is quite extensive.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-25T16:25:32.647Z
2023-03-25T16:30:47.720Z
2023-03-25T16:30:47.720Z
Mou某
<p><a href="https://cantoneseplus.com/character/198" rel="nofollow noreferrer">埋</a> /maai4/</p>
<p>喺埋一齊 = close in together/ cluster together</p>
<p>一齊 = together</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Meaning:
[(1) [v] move nearer to; <strong>close in</strong>; <strong>cluster together</strong>. (2) [v] finish sth off; close up; settle (an account). (3) [adv] even; too; as well.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-25T03:42:45.937Z
Thanks for identifying the word. It seems very subtle from the examples on the page of the link you provide. Still hard for me to get the gist of it.
lilysirius
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-25T02:48:25.873Z
2023-03-25T02:57:24.173Z
2023-03-25T02:57:24.173Z
Tang Ho
<p>I always catch a syllable sounds like mai between 喺 and 一齊. I could get the exact syllable wrong but it should sound similar. The whole thing means 在一起, and 喺 means 在, 一齊 is 一起. So 1) what's the meaning or function of mai? 2) Is it necessary or optional? 3) Does it have other usages?</p>
<hr />
<p>UPDATE</p>
<p>Using the information from the answers, I found an entry in 《香港粵語大詞典》that clears my first and third questions. From there I get its basic verbal meanings, particle functions that are grammaticalized from the verbal meanings, as well as how the meanings and functions developed.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tcrOP.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tcrOP.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/R2DcL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R2DcL.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-26T08:21:34.980Z
If you don't have them, I recommend looking into the cantonese pleco dictionaries.  both the chinese english and chinese chinese ones are phenomenal. here is the most basic entry for this character: (verb) 1. to complete; 2. to settle; (verb) to join in (a group); (adverb) 1. as well; 2. also; 3. and
1 to bury
2 to conceal
3 to hide
4 to settle (an account)
5 to close out
6 to finish up
7 to move closer to
8 closer together
9 as well
zagrycha
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-26T08:24:02.663Z
As others said what you mention is leaning into the 7 or 8 definition above.  To address your question 2.)  It depends on your exact definition of necessary.  Let's say necessary means that not having it or an alternate to serve the same purpose changes the meaning/connotation:  Yes it is needed often (but not always as usual context is king).
zagrycha
<cantonese>
What's the word ma(i) in 喺mai一齊 in Cantonese?
# What's the word ma(i) in 喺mai一齊 in Cantonese?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-25)

I always catch a syllable sounds like mai between 喺 and 一齊. I could get the exact syllable wrong but it should sound similar. The whole thing means 在一起, and 喺 means 在, 一齊 is 一起. So 1) what's the meaning or function of mai? 2) Is it necessary or optional? 3) Does it have other usages?

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UPDATE

Using the information from the answers, I found an entry in 《香港粵語大詞典》that clears my first and third questions. From there I get its basic verbal meanings, particle functions that are grammaticalized from the verbal meanings, as well as how the meanings and functions developed.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/tcrOP.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tcrOP.png)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/R2DcL.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/R2DcL.png)

**Tags:** cantonese
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you don't have them, I recommend looking into the cantonese pleco dictionaries.  both the chinese english and chinese chinese ones are phenomenal. here is the most basic entry for this character: (verb) 1. to complete; 2. to settle; (verb) to join in (a group); (adverb) 1. as well; 2. also; 3. and 1 to bury 2 to conceal 3 to hide 4 to settle (an account) 5 to close out 6 to finish up 7 to move closer to 8 closer together 9 as well  
> **username_1**: As others said what you mention is leaning into the 7 or 8 definition above.  To address your question 2.)  It depends on your exact definition of necessary.  Let's say necessary means that not having it or an alternate to serve the same purpose changes the meaning/connotation:  Yes it is needed often (but not always as usual context is king).  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2023-03-25. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

[埋](https://cantoneseplus.com/character/198) /maai4/

喺埋一齊 = close in together/ cluster together

一齊 = together

> Meaning:
> [(1) [v] move nearer to; **close in**; **cluster together**. (2) [v] finish sth off; close up; settle (an account). (3) [adv] even; too; as well.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for identifying the word. It seems very subtle from the examples on the page of the link you provide. Still hard for me to get the gist of it.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2023-03-25. Score: 0

Since you mentioned it was hard to get the gist of, I thought I'd add the entry from ABC:

**ABC Cantonese**

> **喺一齊**  
> hai2 maai4 jat1 cai4
>
> VERB PHRASE  
> to be together with someone, get together with someone
>
> 我哋有冇可能喺一齊?我想知道你點諗  
> ngo5 dei6 jau5 mou5 ho2 nang4 hai2 maai4 jat1 cai4, ngo5 soeng2 zi1 dou3 nei5 dim2 nam2  
> Do we have a chance to be together? I want to know what you think
>
> Notes: can have a sexual connotation

The entry for [maai4] in ABC Cantonese is quite extensive.


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