aak1齷龌
Jyutpingaak1
Yaleāak
Definition
Dirty or filthy; narrow-minded, petty, or despicable.
- dirty; filthy
- petty; narrow-minded; despicable
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
While the character 齷 is technically part of the compound 齷齪, it is almost never used in isolation in spoken Cantonese. The term is versatile enough to describe both physical grime and a person's lack of moral integrity. It carries a strong sense of disgust or disdain, making it quite a harsh way to criticize someone's character.
Examples
He is a despicable person who is always scamming people for money.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a purely physical description of dirtiness, but it is frequently used to insult someone's personality or behavior. Avoid using it in formal settings as it is quite blunt and judgmental.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
