lek1 gaa4叻㗎
Jyutpinglek1 gaa4
Yalelēk gàh
Definition
Lacquer, or a clear protective finish used on wood and other materials.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Used primarily as an adjective to describe someone who is clever, capable, or talented. It often carries a slightly playful or mocking tone when used with the particle 㗎, especially in rhetorical questions. It is distinct from the noun 叻架 which refers to lacquer, a material used for coating surfaces.
Examples
He is very good at studying, he gets first place every time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the adjective 叻㗎 with the noun 叻架, which is a loanword for lacquer. The former is a common Cantonese descriptor for ability, while the latter is a specific technical term.
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.
