wun6 siu3玩笑
Jyutpingwun6 siu3
Yalewuhn siu
Definition
Joke, prank, or tease without malice.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
While 玩笑 is understood, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the verb phrase 開玩笑 when talking about joking around. For more casual or mischievous pranks, people often use the term 整蠱 instead. Using 玩笑 as a standalone noun can sound slightly formal or literary compared to these more active, colloquial alternatives.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
They are just joking, don't take it so seriously.
Related words
Common phrases
to crack a joke
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 玩笑 for a verb on its own, but it requires the support verb 開 to function naturally in a sentence. You cannot simply say 我玩笑你 to mean I am joking with you.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
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Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
