hou2 geng2好頸好颈
Jyutpinghou2 geng2
Yalehóu géng
Definition
Stubborn, obstinate, or stiff-necked.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Describes someone who is exceptionally patient or stoic under pressure. It implies a level of endurance that goes beyond just being nice, suggesting a thick skin or a refusal to be provoked by others. It is often used to describe someone who remains calm even when being treated unfairly.
Examples
He is really good-tempered, he never loses his temper no matter how much you scold him.
Common phrases
to have a good-tempered personality
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of neck, as the slang usage relies entirely on the context of personality traits. It is not a formal term and should be avoided in professional or written settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Classifier
Particle
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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.
