deon6 hoi1 maau4 sak1頓開茅塞顿开茅塞
Jyutpingdeon6 hoi1 maau4 sak1
Yaledeuhn hōi màauh sāk
Definition
To be suddenly enlightened; to suddenly understand a situation.
writtenother
How it's used
This idiom carries a literary and slightly formal tone, often used to describe a moment of intellectual clarity or solving a long standing confusion. It is less common in casual, everyday street talk and is more frequently encountered in educational or professional settings when discussing complex ideas or problem solving.
Examples
After listening to the teacher's explanation, I was suddenly enlightened.
This problem has bothered me for a long time, how can I achieve a sudden breakthrough?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common slang term, but it is a formal idiom that can sound overly dramatic or stiff if used in trivial situations like choosing what to eat for lunch.
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.
