hai6 wai1 hai6 sai3係威係勢系威系势

Jyutpinghai6 wai1 hai6 sai3

Yalehaih wāi haih sai

Definition

To put on an impressive, imposing, or arrogant show to bluff or draw attention.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Describes someone putting on a show of importance or authority to impress others, often when they lack the actual substance to back it up. It carries a strong sense of mockery, implying that the person is being pretentious or performative. You will often hear it used to deflate someone who is trying too hard to look like a big shot.

Examples

keoi5 ping4 si4 gong2 je5 hou2 zung1 ji3 hai6 wai1 hai6 sai3

佢平時講嘢好鍾意係威係勢。

He loves to act all high and mighty when he talks.

nei5 m4 hou2 hai2 dou6 hai6 wai1 hai6 sai3 laa1 gan1 bun2 mou5 jan4 lei5 nei5

你唔好喺度係威係勢啦，根本冇人理你。

Stop acting so arrogant here, nobody cares about you at all.

Common phrases

baan6 dou3 hai6 wai1 hai6 sai3

扮到係威係勢

to put on a show of being important

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being confident or professional. It specifically implies that the person is faking their importance or overcompensating, so using it to describe someone who is genuinely competent would be an insult.