hou2 gaa1 fo2好傢伙好家伙

Jyutpinghou2 gaa1 fo2

Yalehóu gā fó

Definition

An exclamation of surprise, amazement, or disapproval.

colloquialemotionslang

How it's used

Used primarily as an interjection to express surprise, shock, or admiration at the scale or intensity of something. It often carries a slightly dramatic or theatrical flair, making it common in storytelling or when reacting to unexpected news. While it functions similarly to English expressions like "wow" or "good grief," it specifically emphasizes the magnitude of the situation.

Examples

hou2好，nei5你ging2竟jin4然maai5買zo2咗gam3咁gwai3貴ge3嘅biu1錶？

Good heavens, you actually bought such an expensive watch?

hou2好，ni1呢go3個gung1工cing4程zan1真hai6係gaau2搞zo2咗hou2好noi6耐。

My goodness, this project really took a long time.

Common phrases

hou2好，zan1真hai6係gu2估m4唔dou2到

Good heavens, I really didn't expect that

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a "good guy" or "fine fellow," but in Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used as an exclamation of surprise. Avoid using it to describe a person's character, as that meaning is not present in the local colloquial usage.