siu3 hau2 sai4 sai4笑口噬噬
Jyutpingsiu3 hau2 sai4 sai4
Yalesiu háu sàih sàih
Definition
To grin; to smile widely while showing one's teeth.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
This expression specifically captures the visual of someone showing their teeth while smiling or grinning. It often carries a nuance of being insincere, dismissive, or trying to brush off a serious situation by acting lighthearted. It is frequently used to describe someone who is avoiding accountability or acting coy when they should be serious.
Examples
He is always grinning, looking like he is very happy.
Related words
Common phrases
to say something with a grin
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a genuine, warm, or polite smile, as it often implies a lack of seriousness or a slightly mischievous, cheeky attitude.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
