zing2 gwai2整鬼
Jyutpingzing2 gwai2
Yalejíng gwái
Definition
To play a trick on someone; to prank.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Carries a slightly more mischievous and playful tone than the more standard 整蠱. It is often used in social settings among friends or peers to describe lighthearted trickery. While it implies a prank, it rarely suggests malicious intent or serious harm.
Examples
Why are you playing a prank on me?
He always likes to play pranks on his colleagues.
Related words
Common phrases
to mess around or act silly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of the individual characters, as it has nothing to do with ghosts or spirits. It is strictly a colloquial verb for playing a trick or prank.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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.
