si6 fei1 gwai2是非鬼
Jyutpingsi6 fei1 gwai2
Yalesih fēi gwái
Definition
A gossiper or busybody; someone who likes to spread gossip and stir up trouble.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This term carries a strong negative connotation, painting the person as someone who actively stirs up trouble rather than just being talkative. It is often used to warn others to keep their distance from someone who spreads rumors or creates drama. The character 鬼 is frequently added to nouns in Cantonese to describe someone who habitually engages in a specific, usually annoying, behavior.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is always talking about people behind their backs; he is such a gossiper.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being talkative or chatty, which would be 吹水. Being an 是非鬼 implies malicious intent or a tendency to cause conflict between people.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
