hing1 tiu4輕佻轻佻
Jyutpinghing1 tiu4
Yalehīng tìuh
Definition
Frivolous, flippant, or lighthearted in behavior or attitude.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a lack of seriousness or gravity in one's demeanor, often implying a lack of respect for the situation or other people. It is frequently used to criticize someone who acts in a flirtatious or overly casual way when they should be acting with decorum. The term carries a negative connotation, suggesting the person is unreliable or immature.
Examples
He is always so frivolous, as if nothing is taken seriously.
Don't be so flippant when you speak, this is a formal occasion.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 輕鬆, which means relaxed or lighthearted in a positive, stress-free way. Using 輕佻 to describe a fun atmosphere will sound like you are calling the people involved disrespectful or inappropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
