bei2 gwai2 mai4畀鬼迷
Jyutpingbei2 gwai2 mai4
Yalebéi gwái màih
Definition
To be bewitched by a ghost; used to describe someone acting with an abnormal mental state or making a foolish decision.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Use this phrase to question someone's sudden lapse in judgment or bizarre behavior. It implies that the person is acting so strangely that it seems as if an external, supernatural force has taken control of their senses. It is a very common, lighthearted way to tease friends or family when they make a foolish mistake or act out of character.
Examples
Why did you suddenly buy so much stuff, have you lost your mind?
He is acting like he is possessed, his speech is completely incoherent.
Related words
Common phrases
are you bewitched/have you lost your mind
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual mental health conditions or serious medical issues, as it is strictly a colloquial idiom for temporary lapses in judgment or strange behavior. Using it in a clinical or serious context would be highly inappropriate and offensive.
Grammar color guide
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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).
