baa3 dau1 gai1霸兜雞霸兜鸡
Jyutpingbaa3 dau1 gai1
Yaleba dāu gāi
Definition
Heavy-handed, clumsy, or uncoordinated.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Describes someone who lacks finesse or physical coordination when handling objects. It carries a slightly humorous or exasperated tone, often used when someone accidentally breaks something or handles delicate items with excessive force. It is distinct from simply being lazy or incompetent, as it specifically highlights a lack of manual dexterity.
Examples
He is so heavy-handed with his work, he always breaks things.
Related words
Common phrases
to have heavy-handed movements
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general clumsiness or being slow-witted. It is specifically reserved for physical interactions with objects where the person applies too much force or lacks control.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
