hou2 soek3好削
Jyutpinghou2 soek3
Yalehóu seuk
Definition
Poor, weak, or disappointing in performance.
colloquialdescriptionsslang
How it's used
Originating from the Cantonese slang for being thin or weak, this term is used to describe someone who is underperforming or lacks skill in a specific task. It is commonly heard in contexts involving sports, gaming, or academic results. It carries a slightly mocking or disappointed tone when evaluating someone's effort.
Examples
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of being physically thin, which is also 削. Context is essential to distinguish between a person's physical build and their poor performance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
