siu2 hei3小器
Jyutpingsiu2 hei3
Yalesíu hei
Definition
Narrow-minded, petty, or mean-spirited.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who lacks emotional breadth and takes offense at trivial matters. It is frequently used to warn others about someone's personality, often implying that the person will hold a grudge or react disproportionately to minor slights.
Examples
He is very petty, don't joke around with him.
Why are you being so mean-spirited, holding onto such a small thing?
Related words
Common phrases
to have a petty personality
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 小氣, which often refers to being stingy or cheap with money. While there is some overlap, the Cantonese usage focuses almost exclusively on character and emotional sensitivity rather than financial habits.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
