wu1 zou1 maau1污糟貓污糟猫
Jyutpingwu1 zou1 maau1
Yalewū jōu māau
Definition
An untidy or messy person, often used with a sense of intimacy or affection.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Used affectionately to describe someone, often a child, who has become covered in dirt or grime. While it literally translates to dirty cat, it carries a playful tone rather than a harsh or judgmental one. It is rarely used to describe a genuinely unhygienic adult in a professional context, as that would be considered rude.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Why are you such a mess? Go take a shower quickly.
Kids playing in the sand are bound to get dirty, no need to be so uptight.
Related words
Common phrases
to look like a total mess
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe an adult in a serious or professional setting, as it implies a level of childishness or lack of self-care that can be offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
