dau3 lek1鬥叻斗叻

Jyutpingdau3 lek1

Yaledau lēk

Definition

To compete with each other to see who is smarter or more capable.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Focuses specifically on the act of showing off intelligence or trying to prove superiority in a conversation. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the competition is unnecessary or annoying to those around them. It is frequently used to describe children or immature adults who constantly need to one up others.

Examples

nei5你dei6哋loeng5兩go3個m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日dau3鬥lek1叻laa1啦。

You two should stop trying to outsmart each other all the time.

keoi5佢dei6哋zung1鍾ji3意dau3鬥lek1叻，gaau2搞dou3到hei3氣fan1氛hou2好gaam3尷gaai3尬。

They like to compete over who is smarter, which makes the atmosphere really awkward.

Common phrases

seng4成jat6日dau3鬥lek1叻

always trying to outsmart each other

zung1鍾ji3意dau3鬥lek1叻

likes to compete over who is smarter

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe healthy competition or professional rivalry, as it specifically targets the petty, ego driven desire to appear smarter than someone else.