<p>It is one of the obscene language in Hong Kong.
It can be write as 茂利/茂李 (mau6 lei2 in cantonese, Màolì in mandarin), sounds like an English word "mullion"
In Cantonese, we use the word to describe a man standing still like a pillar, later use to describe stupid person.</p>

<p>Reference from <a href="https://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/question?qid=7008062100602" rel="nofollow">https://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/question?qid=7008062100602</a>, I did a simple translation on the important parts</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>是由20世紀初，英國人在香港教中國人建築而來。
  當時英式建築有好多大型窗戶和陽台，例如港督府，
  這些窗戶和陽台的主要支柱，英文叫mullion。
  當時的mullion全部都是使用很粗大的木柱，但只有立著的才叫mullion，
  橫的叫transom。當時香港人又不懂英文，聽見那些洋人指著一大根木桿猛叫[mullion] 漸漸就學著叫[茂利]，意思是一根根木棍或木柱，
  就像傻愣愣站著的人，後來變成用來形容一些愚鈍之人。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-14T05:18:17.540Z
If "mao li" is actually in mandarin, why doesn't the term show up on Nciku http://www.nciku.com/search/all/pinyin/maoli ?
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T14:34:20.570Z
Sorry for late reply, have been hospitalized for whole week... 
As a Hong Kong Citizen who speaks Cantonese everyday, I can say that 茂利 is not a daily used word, and normally obscene language will not be put in dictionary in China or Hong Kong
IspeakCantonese
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T10:52:24.530Z
Wow China censors even hit the dictionaries?
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-24T12:09:51.033Z
I don't know if there are censors or not, but 茂利 or other obscene language is in spoken Cantonese, not for written, it is not common to found spoken words in dictionary. some common phrases and words in spoken language like 咗, 嚟, 嘅 cannot be found in printed dictionary too. (Cantonese is quite different in spoken and written)
IspeakCantonese
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-13T09:58:24.410Z
2014-04-13T09:58:24.410Z
IspeakCantonese
<p>You're probably referring to 無厘頭 (mou4 lei4 tau4), which in Cantonese refers to something illogical or nonsensical and gave its name to a genre of surrealistic comedy.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-13T06:01:30.987Z
2014-04-13T06:01:30.987Z
jogloran
<p>@Newman's answer about its origin should be right. "Mao Li" has the meanings of "fool" and/or "stupid person".</p>

<p>And it also means "jerk", "bitch" and/or "son of bitch". In my opinion these meanings are used more often. When two people (Cantonese speakers) are quarreling with each other, one may say "你条茂李！", meaning "you son of bitch!"</p>

<p>"Mao Li" is used in Cantonese context. No one uses it in Mandarin context, though you can write it down as "茂李" and pronounce it in Mandarin.</p>

<p>Mandarin equivalent of "Mao Li" can be "傻逼"(fool) or "贱人"(jerk, bitch, son of bitch). Attention! These are dirty words! Everyone should not use them in formal (or informal) occasions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T15:21:19.433Z
Why doesn't 茂李 show up on http://www.nciku.com/search/all/%E8%8C%82%E6%9D%8E and http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E8%8C%82%E6%9D%8E ? Is it not a mandarin word?
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T16:02:51.560Z
@Pacerier I am not a linguist, so I am unable to answer your question seriously. But as a native speaker, I never heard of  it in mandarin.
fyears
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-15T02:42:50.810Z
2014-04-15T02:42:50.810Z
fyears
<p>I've read <a href="http://asianpopnews.com/alan-tam-tries-to-be-peacemaker-anthony-wong-please-let-me-off/" rel="nofollow">an article</a> which says that "Mao Li" in cantonese means "fool" in English.</p>

<p>What is the mandarin equivalent of "Mao Li"?</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mandarintools.com/" rel="nofollow">MandarinTools</a> does not seem to return any useful results for Cantonese look up of "Mao Li".</p>

<cantonese><topolect>
What's "Mao Li" (Cantonese) in mandarin?
# What's "Mao Li" (Cantonese) in mandarin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-13)

I've read [an article](http://asianpopnews.com/alan-tam-tries-to-be-peacemaker-anthony-wong-please-let-me-off/) which says that "Mao Li" in cantonese means "fool" in English.

What is the mandarin equivalent of "Mao Li"?

[MandarinTools](http://www.mandarintools.com/) does not seem to return any useful results for Cantonese look up of "Mao Li".

**Tags:** cantonese, topolect


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-13. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

It is one of the obscene language in Hong Kong.
It can be write as 茂利/茂李 (mau6 lei2 in cantonese, Màolì in mandarin), sounds like an English word "mullion"
In Cantonese, we use the word to describe a man standing still like a pillar, later use to describe stupid person.

Reference from <https://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/question?qid=7008062100602>, I did a simple translation on the important parts

> 是由20世紀初，英國人在香港教中國人建築而來。
> 當時英式建築有好多大型窗戶和陽台，例如港督府，
> 這些窗戶和陽台的主要支柱，英文叫mullion。
> 當時的mullion全部都是使用很粗大的木柱，但只有立著的才叫mullion，
> 橫的叫transom。當時香港人又不懂英文，聽見那些洋人指著一大根木桿猛叫[mullion] 漸漸就學著叫[茂利]，意思是一根根木棍或木柱，
> 就像傻愣愣站著的人，後來變成用來形容一些愚鈍之人。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: If "mao li" is actually in mandarin, why doesn't the term show up on Nciku http://www.nciku.com/search/all/pinyin/maoli ?  
> **username_1**: Sorry for late reply, have been hospitalized for whole week...  As a Hong Kong Citizen who speaks Cantonese everyday, I can say that 茂利 is not a daily used word, and normally obscene language will not be put in dictionary in China or Hong Kong  
> **username_0**: Wow China censors even hit the dictionaries?  
> **username_1**: I don't know if there are censors or not, but 茂利 or other obscene language is in spoken Cantonese, not for written, it is not common to found spoken words in dictionary. some common phrases and words in spoken language like 咗, 嚟, 嘅 cannot be found in printed dictionary too. (Cantonese is quite different in spoken and written)  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-13. Score: 2

You're probably referring to 無厘頭 (mou4 lei4 tau4), which in Cantonese refers to something illogical or nonsensical and gave its name to a genre of surrealistic comedy.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-04-15. Score: 1

@Newman's answer about its origin should be right. "Mao Li" has the meanings of "fool" and/or "stupid person".

And it also means "jerk", "bitch" and/or "son of bitch". In my opinion these meanings are used more often. When two people (Cantonese speakers) are quarreling with each other, one may say "你条茂李！", meaning "you son of bitch!"

"Mao Li" is used in Cantonese context. No one uses it in Mandarin context, though you can write it down as "茂李" and pronounce it in Mandarin.

Mandarin equivalent of "Mao Li" can be "傻逼"(fool) or "贱人"(jerk, bitch, son of bitch). Attention! These are dirty words! Everyone should not use them in formal (or informal) occasions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Why doesn't 茂李 show up on http://www.nciku.com/search/all/%E8%8C%82%E6%9D%8E and http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E8%8C%82%E6%9D%8E ? Is it not a mandarin word?  
> **username_3**: @username_0 I am not a linguist, so I am unable to answer your question seriously. But as a native speaker, I never heard of  it in mandarin.  

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