zing2 gu2 zok3 gwaai3整蠱作怪整蛊作怪
Jyutpingzing2 gu2 zok3 gwaai3
Yalejíng gú jok gwaai
Definition
To play tricks, make mischief, or pull funny faces and gestures.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This phrase describes someone who is being mischievous, acting silly, or deliberately causing minor trouble to get a reaction. It often implies a sense of playfulness rather than genuine malice, though it can still be used to express annoyance at someone's disruptive behavior. It is frequently used to describe children or adults who are acting in a clownish or unpredictable manner.
Examples
He is always playing tricks, it is really annoying.
Why are you acting up and playing tricks?
Related words
Common phrases
always playing tricks
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being funny or telling jokes. 整蠱作怪 specifically carries the nuance of being disruptive, acting out, or performing strange behaviors that deviate from the expected norm.
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.
