kit3 wai6黠慧
Jyutpingkit3 wai6
Yalekit waih
Definition
Clever, shrewd, or artful.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Carries a distinct nuance of being cunning or sly rather than just intelligent. It often implies a lack of sincerity or a tendency to use one's wit for self-serving or manipulative purposes. While it describes someone sharp, it is rarely used as a compliment.
Examples
He is very shrewd and always thinks of ways to trick people.
Related words
Common phrases
a shrewd person
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 聰明, which is a neutral or positive term for intelligence. Using 黠慧 to describe a child or a student usually implies they are being mischievous or untrustworthy.
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.
