haa6 maa5 wai1下馬威下马威

Jyutpinghaa6 maa5 wai1

Yalehah máh wāi

名詞

Definition

An initial show of severity or authority, typically by a newly appointed superior to establish dominance.

colloquialpeoplework

How it's used

Originally a term from martial arts or military contexts, it now describes any preemptive display of power intended to intimidate others. It is almost always used with the verb 俾, as in 俾個下馬威, to indicate the act of delivering this warning. The term implies a deliberate, calculated move to establish a hierarchy rather than just being naturally strict.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

san1新lou5老sai3細dai6第jat1一jat6日faan1返gung1工，zau6就bei2俾zo2咗go3個haa6下maa5馬wai1威ngo5我dei6哋tai2睇。

The new boss gave us a show of authority on his very first day.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使jat1一gin3見min6面zau6就bei2俾go3個haa6下maa5馬wai1威jan4人dei6哋aa4呀？

Do you really need to assert your dominance the moment you meet them?

Common phrases

bei2俾go3個haa6下maa5馬wai1威

to give a show of authority

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for being strict, but it specifically refers to an initial, performative act of dominance. It is not used to describe a person who is consistently strict by nature.