ngau4 gwai2 se4 san4牛鬼蛇神
Definition
Demons and monsters, originally referring to underworld deities and spirits, later used to describe all kinds of evil people.
- Underworld spirits and demon soldiers in Taoism and Buddhism
- datedAll kinds of bad people, including criminals, scholars, and landlords
How it's used
Originally referring to supernatural beings in mythology, this phrase evolved during the Cultural Revolution to label political enemies and undesirable social elements. In modern Hong Kong, it has lost most of its political weight and is now a colorful way to describe a group of suspicious, shady, or disreputable people. It carries a strong sense of disapproval and suggests that the people involved are morally questionable or dangerous.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual ghosts or spirits in a literal sense, as the term is almost exclusively used metaphorically for people. Using it in a religious context to describe actual deities or demons will sound confusing or incorrect to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
