gwan1 zan1均真
Jyutpinggwan1 zan1
Yalegwān jān
Definition
Insistent on dividing or defining things with absolute clarity and precision, to the point of being inflexible.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who insists on strict fairness or absolute clarity, often to the point of being pedantic or inflexible. While it can imply a positive trait like honesty or integrity, it frequently carries a negative connotation of being overly fussy or difficult to deal with. It is commonly used when discussing money, rules, or dividing responsibilities.
Examples
In business, it is crucial to be precise and clear about the accounts.
Related words
Common phrases
to be a bit more precise or fair
to be a very rigid or precise person
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 認真, which simply means serious. 均真 implies a specific focus on drawing clear, often rigid boundaries between things, whereas 認真 is a broader term for being diligent or sincere.
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.
