dau3 fu6 hei3鬥負氣斗负气
Jyutpingdau3 fu6 hei3
Yaledau fuh hei
Definition
To bicker, clash, or act out of spite or a grudge against someone.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the stubborn, petty nature of a conflict where both parties refuse to back down. It implies a cycle of passive-aggressive behavior or intentional provocation rather than just a one-sided grievance. Often used to describe children or couples who are acting childishly by ignoring each other to prove a point.
Related words
Common phrases
a bickering couple
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being angry, which is 嬲. 鬥氣 requires a reciprocal, ongoing dynamic where both sides are actively participating in the standoff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
