gei1 gu1嘰咕叽咕
Jyutpinggei1 gu1
Yalegēi gū
Definition
To speak very softly; to murmur or whisper.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Often implies a sense of annoyance or suspicion, as if the speaker believes the person is complaining or gossiping behind their back. It carries a slightly negative connotation compared to the more neutral term 傾偈. You will frequently hear it used when someone is muttering to themselves or sharing secrets in a way that excludes others.
Examples
What are you murmuring about?
The two of them were whispering in the corner for a long time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 嘀咕, which is more common in Mandarin; while they share the same meaning, 嘰咕 is the preferred colloquial choice in Cantonese for this specific sound and action.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
