ceoi2 haau2取巧
Jyutpingceoi2 haau2
Yalechéui háau
Definition
To act opportunistically, using underhanded or clever but technically legal means to gain an advantage or avoid difficulty.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Carries a distinctly negative connotation, implying that someone is avoiding hard work or responsibility by finding loopholes. It is often used to criticize people who lack integrity or diligence, even if they technically stay within the rules. It is frequently applied to students cheating on assignments or employees looking for the easiest way out of a task.
Examples
He always likes to cut corners at work, so it is hard to trust him.
Related words
Common phrases
sneaky method
to be opportunistic and tricky
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being smart or efficient. It specifically implies a lack of effort or moral shortcut, whereas terms like 醒目 describe genuine intelligence or quick-wittedness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
