daap3 tau4 lou2耷頭佬耷头佬
Jyutpingdaap3 tau4 lou2
Yaledaap tàuh lóu
Definition
A crafty, scheming, or sneaky person.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This term specifically targets someone who appears submissive, quiet, or unassuming by keeping their head down, but is actually calculating or manipulative behind the scenes. It carries a strong negative connotation of untrustworthiness and hidden agendas. It is rarely used to describe someone who is genuinely shy or introverted.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He always pretends to be silly, but he's actually a crafty person.
You really shouldn't believe what that crafty person says.
Related words
Common phrases
a total crafty person
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being shy or lacking confidence. Using this word implies a moral judgment that the person is actively deceiving others, so it can be quite offensive if used to describe someone who is just quiet.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
