ci1蚩
Jyutpingci1
Yalechī
Definition
Ignorant, rustic, or foolish; a legendary marine beast; also used as a surname.
- ignorant, rustic, or foolish
- a legendary marine beast
- a surname
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used in literary contexts or as a surname, its application in daily spoken Cantonese to mean stupid or ignorant is quite rare and often carries a derogatory or mocking tone. It is significantly less common than everyday alternatives like 笨 or 蠢. When used to describe a person, it implies a lack of refinement or social awareness rather than just a lack of intelligence.
Examples
He is so ignorant, he never listens to what people say.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners should avoid using this in casual conversation as it can sound overly formal, archaic, or unnecessarily harsh. It is not a standard way to describe someone who is simply making a mistake.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
