fai3 caai4廢柴废柴
Jyutpingfai3 caai4
Yalefai chàaih
Definition
A good-for-nothing, useless, or incompetent person.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of contempt and disappointment, often directed at someone who lacks ambition or fails to contribute to society. While it literally translates to useless firewood, it functions as a harsh insult rather than a playful tease. Use it cautiously as it can easily escalate a conflict.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He hides away playing games all day, he's really a good-for-nothing.
Related words
Common phrases
to be a good-for-nothing
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in professional settings or with people you do not know well, as it is highly offensive and aggressive. It is strictly reserved for close friends or when venting extreme frustration about someone's incompetence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
