geoi1 sam1 po2 caak1居心叵測居心叵测
Jyutpinggeoi1 sam1 po2 caak1
Yalegēui sām pó chāak
Definition
Harboring ulterior motives; describing someone who is treacherous and whose bad intentions are hard to predict.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy, serious tone and is typically used to describe someone who is perceived as dangerous or manipulative. It is far more formal than everyday descriptions of someone being sneaky or mean. Because it implies a deep, calculated malice, it is rarely used in casual banter and is more common in serious warnings or dramatic storytelling.
Examples
He is always smiling at you, but he actually has ulterior motives.
Do you think this person has ulterior motives because of something they did?
Related words
Common phrases
obviously having ulterior motives
to guard against those with ulterior motives
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe someone who is simply lying or being annoying, but it is too strong for those situations. It should be reserved for people who are actively plotting harm or have a hidden, sinister agenda.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
