waan2 maa5 lau4玩馬騮玩马骝
Jyutpingwaan2 maa5 lau4
Yalewáan máh làuh
Definition
To put on a monkey show, or to make fun of and tease someone.
- to put on a monkey show
- to make fun of; to tease; to play tricks on
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Originating from street performances where monkeys were trained to perform tricks for crowds, this expression implies that someone is acting like a clown or being deliberately disruptive. It is frequently used to describe someone who is being insincere or trying to provoke a reaction through silly or annoying behavior. Unlike simple teasing, it carries a sense of performative foolishness.
Examples
Stop messing around all the time, it is so boring.
Is he trying to make a fool of me? Why would he prank me like that?
Related words
Common phrases
always messing around
stop acting like a clown
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual monkeys or literal animal training, as it is strictly an idiom for human behavior. It is also considered quite informal and can sound dismissive or rude if directed at someone in a serious situation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
