lek1叻

Jyutpinglek1

Yalelēk

Very common

Definition

Smart, capable, brilliant, or highly skilled at something.

capable; competent; very good at something
smart; clever; intelligent; sharp

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Often used sarcastically to imply someone is being a smart aleck or showing off. When someone says 你好叻呀, it frequently carries a tone of annoyance rather than genuine praise. It functions as an adjective that can be modified by intensifiers like 好 or 咁.

Examples

nei5你sai3細lou2佬duk6讀syu1書gam3咁lek1叻，zoeng1將loi4來jat1一ding6定hou2好jau5有ceot1出sik1息。

Your younger brother is so good at studying, he will surely have a bright future.

nei5你gam3咁lek1叻，bat1不jyu4如nei5你lai4嚟gaau2搞dim6掂le1呢daan1單je5嘢laa1啦。

Since you are so smart, why don't you handle this matter yourself?

Common phrases

hou2好lek1叻

very capable

lek1叻zai2仔

smart boy

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 醒, which focuses more on being street-smart or alert. While 叻 describes general capability or intelligence, 醒 specifically refers to being quick-witted or not easily fooled.