咪搞
mai1 gaau2
The Cantonese phrase for "stop it" is 咪搞 (mai1 gaau2).
咪搞 is used to tell someone to stop an annoying or bothering behavior. This includes both physical actions, such as someone poking you and verbal behaviors, such as teasing or joking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 咪 (mai1), meaning "don't" and 搞 (gaau2), meaning "to mess with", "to play with" or "to do".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
咪搞 is an informal phrase. It is typically used among friends and peers, or when you are expressing annoyance toward someone close to you.
How do you pronounce it?
mai1 gaau2
Did you know?
- In a playful or flirtatious context between lovers, saying 咪搞 with a soft tone can actually be a way of inviting more attention rather than genuinely wanting someone to stop.
- The word 咪 is a colloquial contraction of 唔好, a phenomenon in Cantonese where formal negatives are shortened into single sounds for faster, more rhythmic street speech.
- Despite its informal use in 咪搞, the word 搞 is also used in formal professional settings to mean 'organizing' or 'conducting' an event.
Examples in context
- 你咪搞我啦。nei5 mai2 gaau2 ngo5 laa1.Stop it, you're bothering me.
- 咪搞我，我好忙。mai2 gaau2 ngo5, ngo5 hou2 mong4.Stop it, I'm very busy.
Example conversation
Ka Ming is teasing Mei Ling during a break.
- 家明 Ka Ming你個樣好搞笑。nei5 go3 joeng2 hou2 gaau3 siu3.Your face looks so funny.
- 美玲 Mei Ling家明，咪搞我！ga1 ming4, mai5 gaau2 ngo5!Ka Ming, stop it!
- 家明 Ka Ming我只係開玩笑。ngo5 zi2 hai6 hoi1 waan4 jau2.I'm just joking.
- 美玲 Mei Ling唔好理我。m4 hou2 lei5 ngo5.Just leave me alone.
