zaa3 ngoi4 zaa3 ngau6詐呆詐吽诈呆诈吽
Jyutpingzaa3 ngoi4 zaa3 ngau6
Yaleja ngòih ja ngauh
Definition
To pretend to be dumb, foolish, or clueless.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This four-character idiom captures a specific kind of feigned ignorance where someone acts clueless to avoid responsibility or to hide their true intentions. It carries a slightly accusatory tone, implying that the person is clearly aware of the situation but is choosing to play the fool. It is much more vivid and common in casual speech than simply saying 扮傻.
Examples
He clearly knows what happened, why does he have to pretend to be dumb?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a genuine state of confusion, but it specifically refers to a calculated performance. Do not use it to describe someone who is actually slow to understand, as that would be offensive and inaccurate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
