kei1畸
Jyutpingkei1
Yalekēi
Definition
Abnormal, strange, or unusual.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Used primarily to describe things or behaviors that deviate from the norm in a way that feels awkward or unsettling. It carries a stronger sense of being 'off' or 'distorted' compared to the more neutral 奇怪. It is often applied to physical shapes, social behaviors, or situations that feel inherently wrong or unnatural.
Examples
He is very strange, always saying things that make no sense.
This design is very odd, it is completely unusable.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 奇, which is a general term for strange or interesting. 畸 implies a negative or distorted quality, whereas 奇 can be used in a positive or curious sense.
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.
