zi6 daai6自大
Jyutpingzi6 daai6
Yalejih daaih
Definition
Arrogant, self-important, or conceited.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a personality trait where someone overestimates their own importance or ability. It carries a strong negative connotation and is often used to criticize someone who refuses to listen to others due to their inflated ego. Unlike 驕傲, which can sometimes be used in a neutral or positive sense of being proud of an achievement, 自大 is almost exclusively used to point out a character flaw.
Examples
He is very arrogant and always thinks he is the best.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 偉大, which means great or noble. Using 自大 to describe someone you admire will cause significant offense.
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.
