hou2 mei4 hou2 maau6好眉好貌
Jyutpinghou2 mei4 hou2 maau6
Yalehóu mèih hóu maauh
Definition
Good-looking; presenting a decent, clean-cut, or handsome appearance.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This expression carries a strong sense of irony or disappointment, as it is almost exclusively used to contrast a person's respectable appearance with their poor behavior or character. It functions as an adjective phrase to describe someone who looks trustworthy or handsome but acts in a way that contradicts that impression. You will rarely hear it used as a genuine compliment for someone's looks alone.
Examples
He looks so decent, why would he do such things?
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to simply describe a handsome person, as it implies a hidden flaw or a betrayal of expectations. It is not a neutral way to say someone is good-looking.
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.
