When I was young, I knew ghao5 𠢕 as clever or capable. Please listen to the grandmother saying to the grand-child "siang6 ghao5 上𠢕" Did the grandmother mean that the grandchild was the cleverest? Of course not.
The grandmother actually mean to say siang6 guai1 上乖 which means the most well-behaved.
Believe it or not, tian1uê7 聽話 is also ghao5. Tian1uê7 聽話 means being obedient.
So how did guai1 乖 and tian1uê7 聽話 become ghao5?
It is amazing how languages change over time.
However, ghao5 still means clever, capable etc. We have a saying as shown below.
|
mai3 toin2 Dang1Ghou5 bho5 ghao5 nang5 勿睇東吳無𠢕人｜勿睇东吴无𠢕人 |
should not underestimate
other people |
不能小看人家 |
mai3 toin2 - direct translation is don't see but it actually mean "do not despise or underestimate"
Dang'ghou is Eastern Wu [The Three Kingdom period of Chinese history]
bho5 don't have
ghao5 nang5 capable people
AND finally, if you want to hear how to say ghao5 𠢕 please click on this link.
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