gwai2詭诡
Jyutpinggwai2
Yalegwái
Definition
Cunning, crafty, or sneaky; also strange, abnormal, or deceitful.
- crafty; cunning; sly; deceitful
- abnormal; strange; weird
neutraldescriptionspeople
How it's used
Primarily functions as a bound morpheme in modern Cantonese rather than a standalone adjective. It carries a strong connotation of deceit or unnaturalness, often appearing in compound words related to trickery or eerie phenomena. When used to describe someone's personality, it implies a lack of transparency and a tendency toward underhanded behavior.
Examples
He is very cunning and always thinks of shady things.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this word to mean simply 'clever' or 'smart', as it exclusively carries a negative, suspicious, or sinister tone. It is also rarely used in isolation in spoken Cantonese, so learners should stick to established compounds like 詭計 or 詭異.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
