ngaan5 gok3 gou1眼角高
Jyutpingngaan5 gok3 gou1
Yalengáahn gok gōu
Definition
To have high standards; to be picky, snobbish, or hard to please.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who sets their standards unrealistically high, often implying a sense of superiority. While it can refer to being picky about material things or jobs, it is most frequently used to criticize someone's high expectations in romantic partners. The phrase literally refers to the height of one's eye corners, suggesting a person who looks down on others.
Examples
He is so arrogant, who would want to date him?
Don't be so picky, this job is actually quite good.
Related words
Common phrases
extremely arrogant and picky
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 睇唔起, which means to look down on or despise someone. 眼角高 focuses on the subject's own high standards or pickiness, whereas 睇唔起 focuses on the subject's negative attitude toward others.
Grammar color guide
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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.
