zung3 waai6縱壞纵坏
Definition
To spoil (someone, especially children) by overindulging them and yielding to all their wishes.
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the negative outcome of excessive indulgence, implying that the person being spoiled will develop poor character or become entitled. It is almost exclusively used in the context of parenting or authority figures failing to set boundaries for those under their care. The term carries a strong sense of disapproval or warning about the long term consequences of such behavior.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 寵壞, which is understood but less common in natural Cantonese speech. Also, ensure you do not use it to describe spoiling an object or a plan, as it is strictly reserved for people, usually children or younger relatives.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
