tiu4 pei4調皮调皮
Jyutpingtiu4 pei4
Yaletìuh pèih
Definition
Naughty, mischievous, or disobedient; fond of playing pranks or causing trouble.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
While this word is understood in Cantonese, locals more frequently use 曳 to describe a child who is misbehaving or disobedient. 調皮 carries a slightly more playful or lighthearted nuance, often implying someone who is cheeky or likes to play pranks rather than someone who is genuinely malicious. It is common to hear it used to describe pets or adults who are being playfully annoying.
Examples
Was your son very mischievous when he was little?
He is always acting up and causing trouble, which gives the teacher a headache.
Related words
Common phrases
mischievous and troublesome
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe serious misbehavior or criminal acts, as it implies a sense of harmless fun or childish antics. If someone is genuinely being bad or breaking rules, use 曳 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
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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.
