haa1 haa1 baa3 baa3蝦蝦霸霸虾虾霸霸
Jyutpinghaa1 haa1 baa3 baa3
Yalehā hā ba ba
Definition
To go around bullying, intimidating, or lording it over others.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This reduplicated phrase captures the repetitive and annoying nature of someone who constantly seeks out targets to intimidate. It is almost exclusively used to describe someone who picks on those they perceive as weaker, such as children or the elderly. The rhythm of the four characters emphasizes the restless, aggressive energy of the bully.
Examples
Stop going around bullying people at school all the time.
Why is he acting like a bully and picking on the kids?
Related words
Common phrases
always bullying others
to bully and push people around
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 蝦, which is the noun for shrimp. While the sound is identical, the context of bullying makes it clear that the speaker is not talking about seafood.
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.
