gwing2 gwing2 jau5 san4炯炯有神
Jyutpinggwing2 gwing2 jau5 san4
Yalegwíng gwíng yáuh sàhn
Definition
Bright and piercing, describing eyes that are full of life and vigor, as if shining.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is primarily used to describe eyes that appear alert, energetic, or intelligent. It often implies a sense of vitality or excitement, making it a common way to compliment someone's appearance or express that they look particularly sharp. While it is a four-character idiom, it fits naturally into spoken Cantonese when describing someone's gaze.
Examples
His eyes were bright and piercing when he was a child.
Why are your eyes so bright and full of spirit today?
Related words
Common phrases
eyes are bright and shining
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being happy or excited, but it specifically refers to the visual appearance of the eyes. Using it to describe a person's general mood or personality rather than their physical gaze will sound unnatural.
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).
