jat1 faan4 fung1 seon6一帆風順一帆风顺
Jyutpingjat1 faan4 fung1 seon6
Yaleyāt fàahn fūng seuhn
Definition
To go smoothly without a hitch; to sail smoothly.
neutralother
How it's used
Commonly used as a blessing or well-wish for someone starting a new job, moving, or going on a journey. It carries a formal and auspicious tone, often appearing on red packets or greeting cards during festivals. While it describes a situation, it is rarely used to describe a mundane daily task like washing dishes or buying groceries.
Examples
I wish you a bright future and that everything goes smoothly.
Did everything go smoothly on your trip this time?
Related words
Common phrases
wish you smooth sailing
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb phrase that can be used in any context, but it is strictly an idiom reserved for significant life events or long-term endeavors. Using it to describe minor daily occurrences sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
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.
