gaau2 mat1 gwai2 aa3搞乜鬼呀
Jyutpinggaau2 mat1 gwai2 aa3
Yalegáau māt gwái a
Definition
What on earth are you doing? What's going on?
colloquialcommunicationslang
How it's used
This phrase is a highly informal way to express confusion, annoyance, or disbelief at someone's actions. Adding 鬼 adds a layer of frustration or exasperation that makes it much stronger than a simple 搞乜. It is best reserved for friends or people you are very familiar with, as it can sound quite aggressive or rude in a professional setting.
Examples
What the heck are you doing? Why did you take the box apart?
What on earth are they doing? They have been making noise all night.
Related words
Common phrases
what the heck
Common mistake
Avoid using this with superiors or strangers, as the inclusion of 鬼 makes it sound confrontational. It is not a neutral way to ask what is happening, but rather a way to signal that you find the situation ridiculous or irritating.
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.
