gan2 san6謹慎谨慎

Jyutpinggan2 san6

Yalegán sahn

形容詞Uncommon

Definition

Careful, cautious, and prudent.

neutraldescriptions

How it's used

While this word shares the meaning of being careful, it carries a more formal and serious tone compared to the everyday word 小心. It is frequently used in professional or academic contexts to describe someone who is prudent, thorough, or calculated in their actions. Using it in casual conversation can make you sound slightly more sophisticated or grave than usual.

Examples

nei5你zou6做kyut3決ding6定go2嗰zan6陣jiu3要gan2謹san6慎di1啲aa4呀。

You need to be more cautious when making decisions.

keoi5佢cyu5處lei5理le1呢gin2件si6事hou2好gan2謹san6慎，mou5冇ceot1出co3錯。

He handled this matter very carefully and made no mistakes.

Common phrases

gan2謹san6慎cyu5處lei5理

handle with caution

gan2謹san6慎haau2考leoi6慮

consider carefully

Common mistake

Learners often use this interchangeably with 小心, but 小心 is much more versatile and can be used for simple physical safety, such as telling someone to watch their step. Using 謹慎 to warn someone about a physical hazard sounds unnatural and overly formal.