mou5 daam2 gwai2冇膽鬼冇胆鬼
Jyutpingmou5 daam2 gwai2
Yalemóuh dáam gwái
Definition
Coward; a gutless person.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
The term combines 冇膽, meaning lacking courage, with 鬼, which is often used in Cantonese to label a person with a specific trait. It carries a teasing or mocking tone rather than being a clinical description of fear. It is frequently used among friends to call out someone who is hesitant to take a risk or try something new.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Why are you so scared? You really are a coward.
He is usually so loud, who knew he was such a coward.
Related words
Common phrases
to be a coward
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 膽小鬼, which is the standard Mandarin term. While 膽小鬼 is understood in Hong Kong, 冇膽鬼 is the authentic Cantonese way to express the same sentiment.
Grammar color guide
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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.
