zing2 gu2 zou6 gwaai3整古做怪
Jyutpingzing2 gu2 zou6 gwaai3
Yalejíng gú jouh gwaai
Definition
To make funny faces, strike strange poses, or act in a silly, playful manner.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This phrase captures a sense of playful mischief or deliberately bizarre behavior meant to get a reaction from others. It is often used to describe someone who is acting like a clown or trying to be funny by making funny faces or performing silly actions. It carries a lighthearted tone and is rarely used to describe someone who is genuinely mentally unstable.
Examples
He is always messing around, making everyone laugh non-stop.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being strange or weird, as it implies an active, intentional performance to provoke amusement or annoyance. It is a verb phrase describing an action, not an adjective to describe a person's personality trait.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
