teng1 waa6聽話听话
Jyutpingteng1 waa6
Yaletēng wah
Definition
Obedient and docile; listening to instructions and complying with others' wishes.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used as a term of endearment or praise for children, but can sound condescending when applied to adults. It implies a passive compliance that might be seen as lacking initiative in a professional setting. When someone is described as 聽話, it suggests they follow instructions without questioning or causing trouble.
Examples
He is very obedient; he is willing to do whatever you ask.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 聽講, which means to hear about something or to be told. 聽話 specifically refers to the act of obeying or being compliant, not the act of listening to information.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
