gwaai1乖

Jyutpinggwaai1

Yalegwāai

形容詞Very common

Definition

Well-behaved, good, or obedient.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Often used as a term of endearment by adults towards children, it carries a sense of warmth and approval. While it describes behavior, it is frequently used as a direct address or a gentle command to encourage someone to settle down or listen. It implies a social expectation of compliance that is highly valued in local family dynamics.

Examples

nei5你gam1今jat6日hou2好gwaai1乖，zoeng2獎nei5你sik6食tong2糖。

You are very well-behaved today, I will reward you with a candy.

keoi5佢sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣hou2好gwaai1乖，m4唔wui2會zau1周wai4圍zau2走。

He was very obedient when he was small and wouldn't run around.

Common phrases

gwaai1乖gwaai1乖dei2哋

behave yourself

hou2好gwaai1乖

very well-behaved

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe adults in a professional or formal setting, as it can sound patronizing or infantilizing. It is strictly reserved for children, pets, or in very intimate romantic contexts where one partner is teasing the other.