搞事棍
gaau2 si2 gwan3
The Cantonese word for 'troublemaker' is 搞事棍 (gaau2 si2 gwan3).
搞事棍 is used to describe a person who causes trouble, often doing so deliberately.
Meaning: one who causes trouble, especially deliberately (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
gaau2 si2 gwan3
Did you know?
- The word 棍 in 搞事棍 literally means 'stick' or 'cane', but here it acts as a suffix to describe a person who is a 'scoundrel' or 'trickster'.
- In Cantonese, the concept of 'causing trouble' can be escalated using the word 搞搞陣, which implies creating a disturbance specifically to disrupt the harmony of a group.
- The verb 搞 is a linguistic chameleon. Depending on the context, it can mean anything from 'managing a business' to 'fixing a problem' or even 'playing' with friends.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking about a problematic coworker.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan子健，你覺得佢係咪搞事棍？zi2 gin6, nei5 gok3 dak1 keoi5 hai6 mai6 gaau2 si6 gwan3?Zi Jian, do you think he is a troublemaker?
- 子健 Tsz Kin係，佢成日搞亂我哋。hai6, keoi5 seng4 jat6 gaau2 lyun6 ngo5 dei6.Yes, he always messes things up for us.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我真係好煩佢。ngo5 zan1 hai6 hou2 faan4 keoi5.I am really annoyed by him.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我哋唔好理佢啦。ngo5 dei6 m4 hou2 lei5 keoi5 laa1.Let's just ignore him.
