gwai2 seoi6鬼祟
Jyutpinggwai2 seoi6
Yalegwái seuih
Definition
Sneaky, stealthy, or secretive, behaving as if trying to hide something.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
The reduplicated form 鬼鬼祟祟 is significantly more common than the base form 鬼祟 in daily speech. It carries a strong negative connotation of being suspicious or untrustworthy, often implying that the person is hiding something illicit or shameful. It is frequently used to describe someone's body language or movements when they are trying to avoid being noticed.
Examples
He is always acting sneaky, I wonder what he is thinking.
Why are you being so sneaky and peeking over there?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply shy or introverted. It specifically implies a lack of transparency or a hidden, potentially malicious agenda.
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.
