ngaa4 caat3牙擦
Jyutpingngaa4 caat3
Yalengàh chaat
Definition
Arrogant, smug, or boastful in speech and manner.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Originating from the image of someone rubbing their teeth to show off, this word captures a specific kind of cocky, provocative attitude. It is often used to describe someone who talks big or acts superior to others, making it a very common way to call out someone for being insufferable. You will frequently hear it used when someone is being unnecessarily loud or arrogant about their own achievements.
Examples
He talks very boastfully all the time, always saying he is the best.
Do you have to be so smug? Tone it down a bit.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being confident, as it carries a strong negative connotation of being annoying or arrogant. It is an adjective describing behavior and attitude, so it should not be used to describe a person's actual skill level, only their perception of it.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
