maa4 lei6麻利
Jyutpingmaa4 lei6
Yalemàh leih
Definition
Deft, dexterous, quick, and efficient.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This word carries a sense of being both quick and organized, implying a lack of hesitation or clumsiness. It is often used to praise someone for their competence in manual tasks or chores. While it describes speed, it specifically highlights the neatness and effectiveness of the action rather than just raw velocity.
Examples
Hurry up and get it done efficiently!
They are very deft at packing things, and it was done in a moment.
Related words
Common phrases
nimble and quick
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin term 麻利, which is used in a similar way but carries a slightly different regional flavor. In Cantonese, it is strictly an adjective and cannot be used as a verb or a noun.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
