diu1 maan4刁蠻刁蛮

Jyutpingdiu1 maan4

Yaledīu màahn

形容詞Rare

Definition

Unruly, obstinate, and unreasonable, usually describing girls.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on a specific type of unreasonable behavior often associated with spoiled or headstrong young women. It implies a lack of social grace and a refusal to compromise, carrying a stronger negative connotation than simply being stubborn. While it can describe a personality trait, it is frequently used to criticize a specific instance of someone acting out or being difficult.

Examples

keoi5佢sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣hou2好diu1刁maan4蠻，seng4成jat6日faat3發pei4脾hei3氣。

She was very unruly when she was little and threw tantrums all the time.

nei5你m4唔hou2好gam3咁diu1刁maan4蠻laa1啦，teng1聽haa6下jan4人gong2講je5嘢dak1得m4唔dak1得？

Stop being so obstinate, can you listen to what others have to say?

Common phrases

diu1刁maan4蠻jam6任sing3性

unruly and willful

diu1刁maan4蠻gung1公zyu2主

spoiled princess

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe men, as it is almost exclusively reserved for female behavior in common usage. It is not a neutral term for stubbornness, so using it to describe a colleague or superior can be seen as highly offensive or sexist.