seoi2 pei4水皮
Jyutpingseoi2 pei4
Yaleséui pèih
Definition
Poor in quality or ability; below standard; mediocre.
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How it's used
Carries a slightly derogatory tone, implying that someone or something is significantly below the expected standard of performance or quality. It is often used to criticize a lack of competence or skill in a specific task rather than describing a person's general character. While it sounds informal, it is widely used in both social and workplace settings to express frustration with subpar results.
Examples
His ball skills are really mediocre, he always loses.
Your report is so poor, how are you going to show it to the boss?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of water or skin, as it has no connection to either. It is strictly an adjective for quality or ability and cannot be used to describe physical objects like a broken chair or a torn shirt.
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.
