jat1 ngaan5 gwaan1 cat1一眼關七一眼关七
Jyutpingjat1 ngaan5 gwaan1 cat1
Yaleyāt ngáahn gwāan chāt
Definition
To be alert to and keep an eye on everything happening around you at the same time.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes a person who possesses the ability to multitask or maintain situational awareness across several fronts simultaneously. It is frequently used to praise someone for their sharp observation skills or to describe roles that demand high levels of concentration, such as in service or security industries.
Examples
zou6做sau1收ngan2銀jyun4員jiu3要jat1一ngaan5眼gwaan1關cat1七，jau6又jiu3要sau1收cin2錢jau6又jiu3要tai2睇zyu6住di1啲haak3客。
Being a cashier requires being on the alert, as you have to handle payments while keeping an eye on customers.
nei5你hoi1開ce1車go2嗰zan6陣jat1一ding6定jiu3要jat1一ngaan5眼gwaan1關cat1七，m4唔hou2好gwaa3掛zyu6住waan2玩din6電waa2話aa4呀。
You must be on the alert when driving, don't just focus on playing with your phone.
Common phrases
to be alert and attentive while working
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being busy or having a lot of work to do. It specifically highlights the mental capacity to monitor multiple things at once rather than just the volume of tasks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
