laat6辣
Jyutpinglaat6
Yalelaaht
Definition
Vicious, ruthless, or cruel.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Applying this to a person describes someone who acts with extreme severity or lacks any sense of moral compromise. It often implies a calculated, cold-blooded approach to achieving an objective, rather than just being angry or mean. While it shares the same character as the word for spicy food, the metaphorical usage focuses on the stinging, harsh impact of someone's actions.
Examples
He is truly ruthless in his work, showing absolutely no mercy.
Do you have to be so ruthless? We are colleagues after all.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the adjective for spicy food. When used to describe a person, it is a strong criticism of their character or methods, not a description of their personality in a casual or positive sense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
