waan4 pei4頑皮顽皮
Jyutpingwaan4 pei4
Yalewàahn pèih
Definition
Naughty, mischievous, or disobedient, usually describing children's behavior.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
While 頑皮 is widely understood, local speakers often prefer 百厭 when describing children who are particularly energetic or prone to causing minor trouble. It carries a slightly softer, more affectionate tone than 曳, which can sound more like a direct reprimand for bad behavior. Using 頑皮 is perfectly acceptable, but it leans slightly more towards a descriptive observation rather than a stern scolding.
Examples
Why is your son so naughty?
It is very normal for children to be mischievous.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 頑皮 to describe adults, as it sounds condescending or implies they are acting like children. If you want to describe an adult who is being difficult or disobedient, use 曳 or 唔聽話 instead.
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.
