aa3 gwaa1阿瓜
Jyutpingaa3 gwaa1
Yalea gwā
Definition
A black sheep or squanderer of a family; also refers to the fourth eldest child.
- a black sheep or squanderer who ruins a family's fortune or reputation
- the fourth eldest child in a family
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Primarily used to describe someone who brings shame or financial ruin to their family through reckless behavior. While it can also literally denote the fourth child in a family, this usage is less common in modern speech compared to its derogatory sense. It carries a strong tone of disappointment and disapproval from elders.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He gambles all the time, he really is a black sheep.
Why are you being a squanderer again, causing the family to lose all its money?
Related words
Common phrases
to act like a black sheep
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term for a fool or simpleton, as the Cantonese usage is specifically tied to family reputation and financial irresponsibility.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
