gu1 hon4 gwai2孤寒鬼

Jyutpinggu1 hon4 gwai2

Yalegū hòhn gwái

Definition

Miser, cheapskate, or stingy person.

colloquialpeoplemoney

How it's used

Adding 鬼 at the end of an adjective often turns it into a noun referring to a person who embodies that trait. While it carries a negative connotation, it is frequently used in a teasing or informal way among friends to call out someone for being overly frugal. It is much more expressive and common in daily speech than the formal term 吝嗇.

Examples

keoi5佢ping4平si4時hou2好gu1孤hon4寒gwai2鬼，ceng2請sik6食faan6飯dou1都m4唔hang2肯。

He is usually such a stingy person, he won't even pay for a meal.

nei5你zou6做me1咩gam3咁gu1孤hon4寒gwai2鬼aa4呀？maai5買zi1支seoi2水dou1都m4唔dak1得？

Why are you being so stingy? You can't even buy a bottle of water?

Common phrases

gu1孤hon4寒gwai2鬼sing3性gaak3格

stingy personality

Common mistake

Do not use this term to describe someone who is simply careful with money or thrifty, as it implies a lack of generosity that is socially frowned upon. It is a personal attack on character rather than a neutral observation of spending habits.