kei4 gwaai3奇怪
Jyutpingkei4 gwaai3
Yalekèih gwaai
Definition
Strange, odd, or unusual.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Use this to describe things that deviate from the norm or trigger curiosity. It often carries a sense of suspicion or disbelief when used to describe someone's behavior. Unlike the formal Mandarin usage, it is frequently paired with sentence-final particles like 㗎 or 嘅 to soften the tone or express personal surprise.
Examples
He is talking very strangely today.
This matter is really strange, why would it be like this?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe people as 'weird' in a way that might be offensive, as it can imply someone is mentally unstable or acting suspiciously. For a more neutral or lighthearted sense of someone being quirky, consider using 搞笑 or 傻.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
