haa6 sing6下乘
Jyutpinghaa6 sing6
Yalehah sihng
Definition
Inferior or of bad quality.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Literary in origin, this term is primarily used in formal critiques or when discussing the quality of art, literature, or performance. It carries a sense of being low-grade or lacking in refinement, contrasting sharply with the more common colloquial ways to describe bad quality like 差 or 垃圾. Using it in casual conversation can sound slightly pretentious or overly academic.
Examples
The script of this movie is truly inferior.
Do you think this work is of poor quality?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a physical direction or a verb phrase because of the character 下, but it is strictly an adjective describing quality. It is not used to describe physical objects like cheap clothes or broken electronics.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
