baan6 sei2 haai5扮死蟹
Jyutpingbaan6 sei2 haai5
Yalebaahn séi háaih
Definition
To play dead, pretend to be helpless, or act weak to escape responsibility or a difficult situation.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Describes someone who remains completely silent or inactive to avoid responsibility or confrontation. It captures the image of a crab that pulls its limbs in and goes rigid when threatened. Use this when someone is intentionally ignoring a situation or pretending they are not there to escape trouble.
Examples
Don't think you can fool anyone by playing dead after you've messed up.
Related words
Common phrases
to play dead and stay silent
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is literally unconscious or physically injured. It is strictly for behavioral avoidance of social or professional obligations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
