faai3 sau2快手
Jyutpingfaai3 sau2
Yalefaai sáu
Definition
Quick-handed, fast, or efficient in doing work.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the speed of manual tasks or physical actions rather than general velocity or abstract concepts. It often carries a sense of efficiency and competence, implying that the person is not just fast but also effective at getting things done. It is frequently used as an imperative to urge someone to hurry up.
Examples
Be quicker, the bus is about to leave.
He works so fast, no wonder the boss likes him so much.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe the speed of vehicles or inanimate objects, as it is reserved for human actions and manual labor. Use 快 instead for general speed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
