ngau4 gei3 lap1 gei3牛記笠記牛记笠记
Jyutpingngau4 gei3 lap1 gei3
Yalengàuh gei lāp gei
Definition
Casual, informal, or shabby style of dress, typically consisting of jeans and a T-shirt or pullover.
colloquialclothing
How it's used
This expression specifically evokes a look centered on jeans and a simple top, reflecting a time when such an outfit was considered the baseline for being underdressed. It carries a slightly dismissive or self-deprecating tone, implying that the wearer has not put effort into their appearance. While it literally references jeans and a vest, it is now used broadly to describe any outfit that is too informal for a given social setting.
Examples
Why are you dressed so casually for the wedding banquet?
He usually just wears casual clothes to work.
Related words
Common phrases
dressed in a very casual, sloppy way
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply wearing stylish casual clothes, as the term carries a nuance of being sloppy or inappropriately informal for the occasion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
