gaan1 gai3奸計奸计
Jyutpinggaan1 gai3
Yalegāan gai
Definition
An evil plan, scheme, or conspiracy intended to harm others.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the malicious intent behind a plan rather than just the complexity of it. It carries a strong moral judgment, implying that the person behind the plan is untrustworthy or wicked. It is frequently used in contexts involving betrayal or underhanded competition.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
They are thinking up evil plans to hurt people again.
Related words
Common phrases
to succeed in carrying out an evil plan
to see through an evil scheme
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general planning or strategy, which would be 計劃 or 策略. Using 奸計 to describe a normal business strategy or a surprise party will make you sound like you are accusing someone of being a villain.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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.
