lat1 sing2 maa5 lau1甩繩馬騮甩绳马骝
Jyutpinglat1 sing2 maa5 lau1
Yalelāt síng máh lāu
Definition
An extremely naughty child who is no longer under the control of their parent or guardian.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the image of a monkey that has broken its tether and is now running wild. It is used exclusively to describe children who are hyperactive, unruly, or beyond the immediate supervision of their parents or teachers. While it implies a lack of discipline, it is often used with a sense of exasperated affection rather than harsh judgment.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Her son is like a loose-string monkey, running around all the time.
Watch the kids, don't let them turn into uncontrollable monkeys.
Related words
Common phrases
like a loose-string monkey
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe adults, even if they are acting immaturely or wildly, as it is specifically reserved for children. Using it for an adult would sound confusing or inappropriately condescending.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
