ngou6 hei3傲氣傲气
Jyutpingngou6 hei3
Yalengouh hei
Definition
Arrogance; a haughty attitude or feeling of being superior to others.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Describes a deep seated sense of superiority or pride that often manifests as a refusal to compromise or seek assistance. Unlike general rudeness, it implies a specific internal belief that one is above others, often leading to social isolation. It is frequently used to describe someone who is talented but difficult to work with because they refuse to lower their standards or admit a mistake.
Examples
He is a very arrogant person, making it hard to get along with others.
Related words
Common phrases
to put away one's arrogance
full of arrogance
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 驕傲, which can mean proud in a positive sense like feeling proud of one's achievements. 傲氣 almost exclusively carries a negative connotation of being stuck up or unapproachable.
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.
