waan4 lyut3頑劣顽劣
Jyutpingwaan4 lyut3
Yalewàahn lyut
Definition
Naughty, unruly, and disobedient, typically describing children who refuse to listen to correction.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Carries a significantly stronger and more negative connotation than just being playful or mischievous. It implies a persistent defiance or a lack of discipline that makes a child difficult to manage, rather than just occasional bad behavior. While it can apply to adults in formal contexts to describe extreme stubbornness or moral corruption, it is most commonly used to describe children who are beyond simple correction.
Examples
He was very naughty when he was little and always caused trouble.
Related words
Common phrases
unbearably naughty and unruly
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a child who is just energetic or playful, as it implies a lack of respect for authority and a refusal to follow rules. Using it for minor mischief can sound overly harsh or judgmental.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
