siu2 koeng4小強小强
Jyutpingsiu2 koeng4
Yalesíu kèuhng
Definition
Cockroach; also used to describe someone who is seemingly indestructible or resilient.
- slangcockroach
- figurativean indestructible, highly resilient, or repeatedly resurrected person
colloquialanimalsslang
How it's used
Originating from the film Flirting Scholar, this term humanizes the insect by giving it a name. It is used to refer to cockroaches in a way that is less clinical than the formal term, often reflecting the frustration or humor of dealing with a persistent pest. The term also carries a metaphorical sense of someone who is extremely resilient or impossible to get rid of.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
There is a cockroach in the kitchen, it scared me to death!
Why are there so many cockroaches in your house?
Related words
Common phrases
to kill a cockroach
Common mistake
Do not use this term in formal writing or professional settings, as it is strictly colloquial slang. It is intended for casual conversation about household pests or as a playful nickname for a tough person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
