gwaai3 mat6怪物
Jyutpinggwaai3 mat6
Yalegwaai maht
Definition
Monster or monstrosity; a strange, unrecognizable creature in myths or stories.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Beyond the literal sense of a mythical creature, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone with extraordinary, often unsettling, talent or skill. It can also be applied to people who behave in an extremely bizarre or socially unacceptable manner. The tone shifts from playful when talking about children's stories to quite harsh when used to criticize someone's character.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Kids are always afraid there is a monster under the bed.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply ugly, as it carries a strong connotation of being inhuman or monstrous in nature. Using it to describe a person's appearance is highly offensive and aggressive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
