sai3 gaai3 neoi5世界女
Jyutpingsai3 gaai3 neoi5
Yalesai gaai néuih
Definition
A streetwise woman who is socially savvy, tactful, and skilled at dealing with people.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
This term describes a woman who is socially adept, particularly in navigating office politics or pleasing authority figures. It carries a nuanced connotation that can range from genuine admiration for someone's competence to a slight suspicion that they are being manipulative or overly calculating. It is almost exclusively used to describe women, while the male equivalent is often referred to as 世界仔.
Examples
She is so good at handling people, she really is a social butterfly.
Related words
Common phrases
very socially savvy
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply friendly or popular, as it specifically implies a strategic, worldly intelligence in social interactions. It is not a neutral compliment and can sound backhanded depending on the tone of voice.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
