long4 gwo3 waa4 sau3狼過華秀狼过华秀
Jyutpinglong4 gwo3 waa4 sau3
Yalelòhng gwo wàh sau
Definition
Extremely ruthless, greedy, or aggressive.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom originates from a specific Hong Kong television drama character named 華秀 who was known for being exceptionally vicious and calculating. It is used to describe someone who acts with extreme ruthlessness or lacks any sense of empathy in pursuit of their goals. It carries a strong negative connotation and is typically reserved for describing someone who has crossed a line in their behavior.
Examples
He is truly ruthless in his work, showing absolutely no mercy.
Related words
Common phrases
methods are more ruthless than Wah Sau
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard idiom, but it is a pop-culture reference that may not be understood by younger generations who have not seen the original show. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal or professional writing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
