gaan1 him2奸險奸险
Jyutpinggaan1 him2
Yalegāan hím
Definition
Wicked and treacherous; scheming in secret to harm others for one's own benefit.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the combination of malice and hidden, calculated scheming. It is stronger than simply calling someone bad or mean, as it implies a level of intelligence used for destructive purposes. You will often hear it used to describe villains in dramas or people who play office politics behind others' backs.
Examples
He is a wicked and crafty person, you really shouldn't trust him.
Why would you come up with such a wicked and crafty scheme?
Related words
Common phrases
a wicked and crafty villain
wicked and crafty methods
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 狡猾, which focuses more on being slippery or clever at avoiding trouble. 奸險 carries a much heavier moral weight and implies an active intent to cause harm to others for personal gain.
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.
