mou5 lai5冇禮冇礼
Jyutpingmou5 lai5
Yalemóuh láih
Definition
Impolite, rude, or ill-mannered.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This term is a shortened, more colloquial version of 冇禮貌. It is frequently used in casual settings to describe someone who lacks basic social graces or respect. While it is not necessarily vulgar, it carries a strong tone of disapproval and is often used when complaining about someone's behavior to a third party.
Examples
He speaks so rudely, it is really hard to tolerate.
You must not be so impolite when facing your elders.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 冇禮貌. While 冇禮 is perfectly acceptable in speech, it is slightly less common than the full form 冇禮貌, and using it in formal writing would be inappropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
