daan1 dou1 zik6 jap6單刀直入单刀直入
Jyutpingdaan1 dou1 zik6 jap6
Yaledāan dōu jihk yahp
Definition
To come straight to the point without beating around the bush.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Carries a positive connotation of efficiency and honesty, often used to praise someone who avoids wasting time. It is frequently employed as an imperative or a suggestion when a conversation is dragging on or becoming unnecessarily vague.
Examples
Stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point.
He is very straightforward and always gets straight to the point.
Related words
Common phrases
to speak in a straightforward manner
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical movement or literal cutting, as it is strictly a metaphorical idiom for communication style. It is not interchangeable with simple adjectives like 直接 because it specifically emphasizes the act of cutting through conversational filler.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
