jan4 gap1 zi3 sang1人急智生
Jyutpingjan4 gap1 zi3 sang1
Yaleyàhn gāp ji sāng
Definition
To become quick-witted in an emergency; to find a way out of a sudden crisis.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom describes the phenomenon where a person suddenly becomes clever or resourceful under extreme pressure. It is often used to praise someone who finds a clever workaround when faced with an unexpected obstacle. Unlike general intelligence, it specifically highlights the ability to think on one's feet during a crisis.
Examples
Luckily he was quick-witted in the emergency and immediately thought of a way to solve it.
The situation was so critical back then, how did you manage to stay sharp and come up with a solution?
Related words
Common phrases
truly quick-witted in an emergency
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is naturally smart or intelligent in everyday life. It is strictly reserved for moments of urgency or desperation where a solution is needed immediately.
Grammar color guide
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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).
