kyut3獗
Jyutpingkyut3
Yalekyut
Definition
Unruly, wild, or lawless.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
猖獗 is almost exclusively used in the compound 猖獗 to describe behavior that is unrestrained, rampant, or brazenly defiant of rules or social norms. It carries a strong negative connotation, often implying that someone or something is acting with a sense of impunity. While it can describe people, it is frequently applied to abstract concepts like crime or disease to suggest they are spreading uncontrollably.
Examples
These kids are really being so unruly.
How can they be so lawless?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general adjective for wild or energetic behavior, but it specifically implies a negative, aggressive, or harmful lack of restraint. Avoid using it to describe simple high energy or playfulness in children, as it sounds far too severe and accusatory.
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.
