daam2 daai6 sam1 sai3膽大心細胆大心细
Jyutpingdaam2 daai6 sam1 sai3
Yaledáam daaih sām sai
Definition
Bold yet cautious; brave and attentive to detail.
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How it's used
This idiom is frequently used to describe someone who possesses the ideal balance of courage and meticulousness, especially in high-stakes environments like medicine or engineering. It carries a positive connotation of professional competence rather than just reckless bravery. Unlike simple descriptors of bravery, it emphasizes the necessity of caution and precision alongside decisive action.
Examples
He has always been bold and deliberate in his work.
You must be bold and deliberate when performing surgery.
Related words
Common phrases
a bold and deliberate person
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a synonym of reckless or impulsive, but the second half, 心細, is essential to the meaning. It specifically requires the person to be observant and careful, not just daring.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.



