waai6壞坏
Jyutpingwaai6
Yalewaaih
Definition
Bad; harmful; causing damage or harm to people.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Beyond describing moral character or negative quality, this character is the standard way to say something is broken or malfunctioning. When used for objects, it implies the item is no longer functional rather than just dirty or ugly. It is frequently paired with 咗 to indicate the state of being broken.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 爛, which specifically refers to physical damage like tearing or shattering. While a broken machine is 壞, a torn piece of paper is 爛.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
