gwai2 ng5 maa5 luk6鬼五馬六鬼五马六
Jyutpinggwai2 ng5 maa5 luk6
Yalegwái ńgh máh luhk
Definition
Dressing or acting strangely, eccentric, or messy.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of disapproval or confusion regarding someone's appearance or behavior. It is frequently used when someone's outfit is overly eccentric or when their actions seem disorganized and nonsensical. It is rarely used in a neutral or positive context, as it almost always implies that the subject looks or acts ridiculous.
Examples
He always dresses so strangely, I really can't get used to it.
Why are you acting so weird, are you trying to scare someone?
Related words
Common phrases
dressed in a bizarre or ridiculous way
to make a mess of things or act strangely
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply unique or artistic in a positive way. It is a judgmental term that suggests the person looks messy, bizarre, or out of place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
