dai1 dai1 dei2低低地
Jyutpingdai1 dai1 dei2
Yaledāi dāi déi
Definition
Slightly silly, foolish, or mentally slow.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Used to describe someone who is acting silly, slow, or behaving in an irrational manner. It is a lighthearted way to tease friends and is far less offensive than calling someone mentally disabled. The suffix 地 adds a softening effect, turning a harsh insult into a casual observation of someone's current state.
Examples
He seems a bit slow when he talks.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe people with actual intellectual disabilities, as it remains derogatory in that context. It is strictly for playful banter among peers.
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.
