hou2 mei4 hou2 maau6 saang1 saa1 sat1好眉好貌生沙蝨好眉好貌生沙虱
Jyutpinghou2 mei4 hou2 maau6 saang1 saa1 sat1
Yalehóu mèih hóu maauh sāang sā sāt
Definition
Despicable or bad-natured despite having a good, decent, or handsome appearance.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to express shock or disappointment when someone's outward appearance or social status contradicts their rotten personality. It specifically targets people who present themselves as respectable or attractive but harbor malicious or immoral intentions. The imagery of sand fleas suggests that the corruption is hidden beneath a polished surface, making it particularly insidious.
Examples
He looks decent but is actually despicable; I never expected him to have such poor character.
Why is he such a scumbag despite his good looks, always scamming people for money?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply ugly or unattractive. It is strictly reserved for people who are physically appealing or well-dressed but possess a bad character.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
