biu1 kei4 laap6 ji6標奇立異标奇立异
Jyutpingbiu1 kei4 laap6 ji6
Yalebīu kèih laahp yih
Definition
To attract attention by intentionally doing unusual things to stand out.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is being deliberately eccentric or attention seeking rather than genuinely creative. It is frequently used to criticize someone who adopts a bizarre fashion style or holds controversial opinions solely to stand out from the crowd. Unlike simply being unique, it suggests a performative aspect that others may find annoying or pretentious.
Examples
He is always trying to be different just to get people to notice him.
Why do you need to act so strangely? Just be yourself.
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately trying to be eccentric
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive term meaning creative or innovative, but it is almost exclusively used to describe behavior that is seen as disruptive or attention seeking.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
