gwaai1 haau2乖巧
Definition
Deft, nimble, or agile, with excellent physical coordination and quick movements.
How it's used
While 乖巧 is often used in Mandarin to mean obedient or well behaved, in Cantonese it specifically describes physical dexterity, coordination, and quickness of movement. It is frequently used to praise someone's athletic ability or their skill in handling tasks that require nimble fingers. Using it to describe a child's personality is rare and may cause confusion as listeners will expect a description of physical agility.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin meaning of being obedient or cute. In a Cantonese context, if you describe a child as 乖巧, people will assume you are commenting on their physical coordination or athletic grace rather than their good behavior.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
