jan4 zai2 sai3 sai3人仔細細人仔细细
Jyutpingjan4 zai2 sai3 sai3
Yaleyàhn jái sai sai
Definition
Describes a young child who talks, acts, or behaves in a mature or adult-like manner.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This phrase carries a tone of mild surprise or amusement at a child's maturity. It is almost exclusively used to comment on behavior that seems beyond the child's years, such as showing deep insight or taking on adult responsibilities. It is not used to describe physical size, but rather the contrast between a small age and a big personality.
Examples
He is so young, yet his words are surprisingly sensible.
You are just a kid, why are you talking about such profound things?
Related words
Common phrases
a child acting like an adult
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply short in stature, as it specifically refers to age and maturity. It is also not used for adults, even if they are small in size.
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.
