zeng1 gwaai1 ling4 lei6精乖靈利精乖灵利

Jyutpingzeng1 gwaai1 ling4 lei6

Yalejēng gwāai lìhng leih

Definition

Clever, bright, and obedient, especially of a child.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Describes a child who is both bright and well-mannered, often used by adults to praise someone young. It combines the sense of being sharp-witted with the quality of being easy to manage or polite. You will frequently hear this used by older relatives when they are pleased with a child's social behavior.

Examples

keoi5佢go3個zai2仔hou2好zeng1精gwaai1乖ling4靈lei6利，gin3見dou2到jan4人dou1都sik1識giu3叫jan4人。

Her son is very clever and well-behaved, he knows how to greet people when he sees them.

nei5你sai3細go3個go2嗰zan6陣hai6係mai6咪hou2好zeng1精gwaai1乖ling4靈lei6利㗎？

Were you a clever and obedient child when you were little?

Common phrases

zeng1精gwaai1乖ling4靈lei6利ge3嘅siu2小pang4朋jau5友

a clever and well-behaved child

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe an adult, as it carries a strong connotation of childhood innocence and obedience. Applying it to a grown person can sound patronizing or imply they are being treated like a child.