diu3 gou1 lei4 maai6吊高嚟賣吊高嚟卖
Jyutpingdiu3 gou1 lei4 maai6
Yalediu gōu lèih maaih
Definition
To play hard to get; to demand a high price or excessive benefits by exploiting one's popularity or scarcity.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Originally referring to merchants who would hang goods high up to create an illusion of scarcity or high value, this expression now describes anyone who acts coy or demands better terms because they know they are in high demand. It carries a slightly critical or teasing tone, implying the person is being unnecessarily difficult or arrogant. It is most commonly used in professional or romantic contexts where someone is negotiating their worth.
Examples
He got popular recently, so he is immediately playing hard to get.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply shy or humble. It specifically implies a calculated move to increase one's perceived value or to force the other party to offer more.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
