jau4 tau4 fan2 min6油頭粉面油头粉面
Jyutpingjau4 tau4 fan2 min6
Yaleyàuh tàuh fán mihn
Definition
Sloppy or untidy in appearance, characterized by messy hair or a greasy face.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of disapproval, implying that the person is lazy or lacks self-respect regarding their hygiene. It is specifically used to criticize someone whose hair is oily or unstyled and whose face looks dirty or greasy. It is rarely used to describe someone who is naturally messy, but rather someone who has clearly neglected their grooming routine.
Examples
You always look greasy and unkempt, how are you going to go for a job interview?
He always looks greasy and unkempt at work, it is very unprofessional.
Related words
Common phrases
always looking greasy and unkempt
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin idiom 油頭粉面, which can sometimes carry a positive or neutral connotation of being dapper or overly groomed like a playboy. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively a negative criticism of poor hygiene.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
