hei2 ngaan5起眼
Jyutpinghei2 ngaan5
Yalehéi ngáahn
Definition
Eye-catching, noticeable, or conspicuous.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe something that stands out in a way that might be slightly overwhelming or distracting. While it can be used neutrally, it frequently carries a nuance of being conspicuous, sometimes implying that the object or person is drawing more attention than desired.
Examples
The shirt they are wearing is so eye-catching, you can see it at a glance.
Your new hairstyle is so striking, are you trying to attract attention?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 顯眼, which is more commonly used in formal writing or standard Mandarin to mean visible or prominent. In spoken Cantonese, 起眼 is the preferred choice for describing something that catches the eye.
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.
