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
He loves to act all high and mighty when he talks.
Related words
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.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
