gwan1 tau4 gwan1 nou5惃頭惃腦惃头惃脑
Jyutpinggwan1 tau4 gwan1 nou5
Yalegwān tàuh gwān nóuh
Definition
Stupid, dumb, or muddleheaded.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who appears slow-witted, dazed, or lacking common sense. It is often used when someone is being absent-minded or failing to grasp a simple situation, rather than implying a permanent intellectual disability. The tone is informal and can range from teasing to mildly annoyed depending on the context.
Examples
He is always acting so silly and dumb, it is really frustrating.
Why are you acting so clueless? Be a bit sharper.
Related words
Common phrases
acting in a silly or dumb manner
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being mentally challenged. It is a colloquial way to describe someone who is currently acting foolish or not paying attention, so using it to describe someone with a serious cognitive impairment is offensive and inappropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
