好犀利
hou2 sai1 lei6
The Cantonese phrase for amazing is 好犀利, pronounced hou2 sai1 lei6.
好犀利 is used to describe someone's impressive skills or an amazing situation. While it can be used generally to mean amazing, awesome or impressive, its underlying sense relates to being powerful or sharp.
Meaning: possessing uniquely wonderful qualities (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 好 (very) and 犀利 (fierce, sharp or powerful).
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context and desired tone, you might use different forms: 好正 is used to mean awesome, 好勁 describes something incredible or mind-blowing and the slang term 絕 means amazing or unbelievable. For a more formal tone, use 好出色, which translates to excellent or impressive.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, 好 acts as an intensifier meaning 'very' before the adjective 犀利.
How do you pronounce it?
hou2 sai1 lei6
Did you know?
- The character 犀 in 犀利 refers to the rhinoceros. Historically, the term related to the sharp, pointed horn of the animal, which eventually evolved into a metaphor for power and skill.
- In Cantonese, calling someone 好犀利 can sometimes carry a hint of sarcasm. If someone makes a clumsy mistake, a listener might say 好犀利呀 with a specific tone to mock their perceived 'greatness'.
- While 犀利 means 'amazing' in Cantonese, in Standard Mandarin it is more commonly used to describe something 'acute' or 'sharp', such as a 'sharp' pain or a 'keen' observation.
Examples in context
- 你真係厲害 (nei zan hai laai hoi)You are amazing!
- 真係好勁呀 (zan hai hou ging aa)That's amazing!
- 佢嘅中文真係好犀利。keoi5 ge3 zung1 man4 zan1 hai6 hou2 sai1 lei6.His Chinese is really amazing.
- 你今日嘅表現好犀利。nei5 gam1 jat6 ge3 biu2 sin6 hou2 sai1 lei6.Your performance today is amazing.
- 呢個新技術好犀利。ni1 go3 san1 gei6 seot6 hou2 sai1 lei6.This new technology is amazing.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a talented musician they saw perform.
- 美玲 Mei Ling佢彈鋼琴真係好犀利！keoi5 daan2 gong1 cin4 zan1 hai6 hou2 sai1 lei6!He plays the piano so amazingly!
- 俊傑 Chun Kit係呀，佢真係好有才華。hai6 aa3, keoi5 zan1 hai6 hou2 jau5 coi4 waat6.Yes, he is truly talented.
- 美玲 Mei Ling我好想學佢咁勁。ngo5 hou2 soeng2 hok6 keoi5 gam3 ging6.I really want to be as good as him.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit你要多啲練習先得。nei5 jiu3 do1 di1 lin6 zaap6 sin1 dak1.You need to practice a lot more.
