faai3 jan4快人
Jyutpingfaai3 jan4
Yalefaai yàhn
Definition
To do something faster than others.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 快人一步, which highlights someone being ahead of the curve or more efficient than the average person. It functions as a comparative descriptor rather than a noun for a specific type of person. It carries a slightly competitive or admiring tone depending on the context.
Examples
He works faster than others and finishes very quickly.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often treat this as a noun meaning a fast person, but it is strictly used in comparative structures. You cannot say 佢係一個快人 to mean he is a fast person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
