maan6 nang4 bok3 si6萬能博士万能博士
Jyutpingmaan6 nang4 bok3 si6
Yalemaahn nàhng bok sih
Definition
A know-it-all; someone who knows a lot about everything or pretends to.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Originally the name of a popular cartoon character, this term has evolved into a sarcastic label for someone who pretends to be an expert on everything. It carries a strong sense of annoyance or mockery, implying the person is overstepping their actual knowledge. Use it to call out someone who is being condescending or insufferable in a conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He always acts like a know-it-all, but actually he doesn't know much.
Related words
Common phrases
to act like a know-it-all
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely smart or helpful, as it is almost exclusively used to criticize arrogance or performative intelligence.
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.
