jat1 faat3 cin1 gwan1一髮千鈞一发千钧
Jyutpingjat1 faat3 cin1 gwan1
Yaleyāt faat chīn gwān
Definition
Extremely precarious; hanging by a thread.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a moment of extreme peril where the slightest change could lead to disaster. It carries a sense of high tension and urgency, often appearing in news reports or formal storytelling rather than casual daily chatter. It effectively captures the feeling of being on the edge of a catastrophe.
Examples
This business deal is hanging by a thread, absolutely no mistakes allowed.
The situation was extremely critical at the time, luckily his reaction was fast enough.
Related words
Common phrases
the situation is hanging by a thread
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of physical weight or hair, but it is purely metaphorical. Avoid using it to describe minor inconveniences or small problems, as it is reserved for life-or-death or high-stakes crises.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
