ji1 gun1 kam4 sau3衣冠禽獸衣冠禽兽
Jyutpingji1 gun1 kam4 sau3
Yaleyī gūn kàhm sau
Definition
An immoral and despicable person; a beast in human clothing.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral condemnation, specifically targeting someone who maintains a respectable outward appearance while behaving in a vile or unethical manner. It is far more biting than simply calling someone a bad person, as it highlights the hypocrisy of their social status or attire versus their inner character. It is frequently used in formal writing or dramatic speech to denounce someone's lack of integrity.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
He looks refined on the surface, but who knew he was actually a beast in human clothing.
These beasts in human clothing really do not deserve forgiveness.
Related words
Common phrases
simply a beast in human clothing
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone wearing animal-themed clothing, but it is strictly a metaphorical insult regarding character. It should never be used to describe someone who is simply poorly dressed or eccentric.
Grammar color guide
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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).
