suk1 gwat1縮骨缩骨
Jyutpingsuk1 gwat1
Yalesūk gwāt
Definition
Selfish, cunning, and calculating, especially in avoiding responsibility or expenditure.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who avoids taking responsibility or tries to gain an unfair advantage by being sneaky or stingy. It carries a strong negative connotation and is often used to criticize someone who cuts corners or leaves the dirty work for others to handle. It is a very common way to label someone as untrustworthy in a social or professional setting.
Examples
He is a very cunning person, always thinking of ways to shirk responsibility.
Don't be so selfish and underhanded; we are colleagues after all.
Related words
Common phrases
cunning or underhanded behavior
a person who is notoriously selfish and cunning
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being frugal or careful with money. While it can imply stinginess, the core meaning is about a lack of integrity and a tendency to act in a self-serving, cowardly way to avoid consequences.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
