saa2 baa2 hei3耍把戲耍把戏
Jyutpingsaa2 baa2 hei3
Yalesá bá hei
Definition
To perform acrobatics or jugglery, or to play tricks and put on a show.
- to perform acrobatics, magic, or jugglery
- figurativeto play tricks; to use cheap tactics to deceive people
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This phrase carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty or manipulative behavior. It is rarely used to describe harmless pranks or playful jokes, but rather implies someone is using deceitful tactics to achieve a goal. It is often used to call out someone who is being insincere or trying to cover up a mistake.
Examples
He is always playing tricks and deceiving people.
Don't you think about playing tricks to fool me.
Related words
Common phrases
to play tricks to deceive people
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal performance of magic or acrobatics. While it can refer to street performances in a historical context, in modern daily conversation, it almost exclusively refers to deceptive or shady behavior.
Grammar color guide
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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.
