zaa3 din1 baan6 so4詐癲扮傻诈癫扮傻
Jyutpingzaa3 din1 baan6 so4
Yaleja dīn baahn sòh
Definition
To play the fool; to feign madness or ignorance.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This expression is used to describe someone who feigns ignorance or mental instability to evade responsibility or avoid a difficult situation. It carries a slightly negative connotation, implying that the person is being manipulative or dishonest rather than genuinely confused. It is more emphatic than simply saying 扮傻 because the inclusion of 癲 suggests a more dramatic or chaotic performance.
Examples
He always plays the fool because he doesn't want to work.
Why are you playing dumb? Hurry up and tell the truth.
Related words
Common phrases
always playing the fool
don't play the fool
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is actually suffering from a mental health condition, as it is strictly used to describe a deliberate act of deception. Using it in a serious context can be highly offensive.
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.
