jau3 zi6幼稚

Jyutpingjau3 zi6

Yaleyau jih

形容詞Common

Definition

Naive, immature, or childish.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Used primarily to criticize someone for acting in a way that is inappropriate for their age or maturity level. It carries a strong sense of disapproval and is rarely used to describe genuine, innocent childhood wonder. When directed at an adult, it serves as a sharp rebuke for lack of judgment or emotional control.

Examples

nei5你mai1咪gam3咁jau3幼zi6稚laa1啦，zou6做je5嘢jiu3要nam2諗cing1清co2楚sin1先。

Don't be so naive, you need to think things through before acting.

keoi5佢gong2講di1啲je5嘢hou2好jau3幼zi6稚，jyun4完cyun4全m4唔ci5似daai6大jan4人。

The things he says are so immature, he doesn't seem like an adult at all.

Common phrases

hang4行wai4為jau3幼zi6稚

immature behavior

si1思soeng2想jau3幼zi6稚

immature thinking

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe a child, as it implies they should have already outgrown such behavior. It is strictly an adult-to-adult or adult-to-teenager critique.