hai6 / gaai3妎
Jyutpinghai6 / gaai3
Yalehaih / gaai
Definition
An ancient term referring to jealousy.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This term is specifically used to describe someone who is overly concerned with trivial matters or holds grudges easily. It carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the person lacks broad-mindedness. It is often used in casual conversation to comment on someone's personality or reaction to a situation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 介意, which is a standard verb meaning to mind or care about something. While 妎意 describes a personality trait of being petty, 介意 is a neutral verb used for expressing that something bothers you.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.



