cung1 man5聰敏聪敏
Jyutpingcung1 man5
Yalechūng máhn
Definition
Intelligent, clever, and quick-witted.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
While 聰明 is the standard term for intelligent, 聰敏 emphasizes a sense of agility and quickness in both thought and action. It often implies a natural, innate sharpness rather than just academic knowledge. You will frequently hear it used to describe children or people who pick up new skills very rapidly.
Examples
This kid is really clever and quick-witted.
Since he is so sharp, he will definitely think of a way.
Related words
Common phrases
born with natural intelligence and agility
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 聰明, but 聰敏 is slightly more literary and descriptive. Using it in every context where you would use 聰明 can sound a bit formal or overly poetic in casual conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
