ho1 kau4 gou1苛求高
Jyutpingho1 kau4 gou1
Yalehō kàuh gōu
Definition
To be highly demanding, fastidious, or overly strict.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on an unreasonable or excessive level of expectation that goes beyond standard requirements. It implies a sense of harshness or severity that can make others feel pressured or uncomfortable. While it can be used in professional settings, it is equally common when describing someone with an overly critical personality in personal relationships.
Related words
Common phrases
demanding perfection
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 嚴格, which simply means strict or rigorous. 嚴格 can be positive, such as a teacher having high standards for learning, whereas 苛求 always carries a negative connotation of being overly critical or harsh.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
