gwai2 mai4 sam1 hiu3鬼迷心竅鬼迷心窍
Jyutpinggwai2 mai4 sam1 hiu3
Yalegwái màih sām hiu
Definition
To lose one's mind or judgment under temptation, obsession, or external influence.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This idiom describes a sudden lapse in judgment caused by greed, lust, or intense desire. It carries a strong connotation of being under a spell or losing one's rational mind, often used to explain why someone did something completely out of character. While it literally references ghosts, it is used metaphorically for any situation where someone makes a foolish decision due to temptation.
Examples
He was momentarily blinded by greed and ended up taking someone else's money.
Are you possessed or something? Why would you believe in this scam?
Related words
Common phrases
a momentary lapse in judgment
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple curiosity or a mild hobby. It is reserved for situations where the person's actions are morally questionable or clearly irrational, implying they have lost their sense of right and wrong.
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.
