kwaa1 hau2誇口夸口
Jyutpingkwaa1 hau2
Yalekwā háu
Definition
To boast or brag.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Focuses on the act of making a verbal claim that exceeds one's actual ability or reality. It often carries a sense of warning or skepticism from the listener, implying that the person is setting themselves up for failure or public embarrassment.
Examples
He is always boasting about how great he is.
Don't boast just yet, it will be embarrassing if you can't deliver later.
Related words
Common phrases
to boast that
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 吹水, but 誇口 is more formal and carries a stronger negative connotation of arrogance or overpromising, whereas 吹水 is casual and often just means chatting or exaggerating for fun.
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.
