siu2 gwai2 tau4小鬼頭小鬼头

Jyutpingsiu2 gwai2 tau4

Yalesíu gwái tàuh

Definition

A cheeky, tricky, or mischievous child.

colloquialpeople

How it's used

Carries a playful and affectionate tone when used by adults to describe children who are mischievous or full of energy. It shifts the focus from the literal meaning of a ghost to the idea of a spirited, unpredictable troublemaker. It is rarely used to describe a child who is genuinely behaving badly, as it implies a sense of endearment.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你ne1呢go3個siu2小gwai2鬼tau4頭jau6又heoi3去bin1邊dou6度wun6玩aa4呀？

Where have you been off to play, you little rascal?

uk1屋kei2企go2嗰gei2幾go3個siu2小gwai2鬼tau4頭seng4成jat6日dou1都gam3咁cou4嘈。

Those few little rascals at home are always so noisy.

Common phrases

baak3百jim3厭siu2小gwai2鬼tau4頭

naughty little rascal

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe adults, as it would sound condescending or insulting rather than playful. It is strictly reserved for children or close juniors.