mou4 sau2 mou4 goek3毛手毛腳毛手毛脚
Jyutpingmou4 sau2 mou4 goek3
Yalemòuh sáu mòuh geuk
Definition
To touch or grope someone without their consent; to make unwelcome sexual advances or engage in inappropriate fondling.
colloquialpeoplebody
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who touches others in an unwanted or overly familiar way, often with sexual intent. While it can sometimes refer to being clumsy or careless in a general sense, in modern social contexts, it is almost exclusively used to call out sexual harassment or inappropriate physical contact. It carries a strong negative connotation and is used to express serious disapproval or disgust.
Examples
He was being handsy on the MTR, he is such a pervert.
Don't be inappropriate with people, it is very rude.
Related words
Common phrases
to be handsy with someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage, which often refers to being clumsy or careless with objects. In Cantonese, the focus is heavily on the inappropriate physical contact with people.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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).
