gwai2 gwaai3鬼怪
Jyutpinggwai2 gwaai3
Yalegwái gwaai
Definition
Ghosts, monsters, and other creepy, unrecognizable supernatural creatures, typically associated with evil.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Refers broadly to supernatural entities that are unsettling or monstrous in appearance. While it covers ghosts and ghouls, it carries a stronger connotation of physical deformity or bizarre, non-human features compared to the simple term 鬼. It is frequently used in children's stories or when describing something visually grotesque.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Rumor has it that monsters haunt this place, are you scared?
He always dresses up as a monster to scare people, it is so boring.
Related words
Common phrases
to dress up as a monster
ghost or monster stories
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a person who is simply mean or cruel, as it specifically implies a supernatural or creature-like quality. If you want to call someone a monster in a metaphorical sense, use 衰人 or 變態 instead.
Grammar color guide
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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).
