jau5 ngaan5 bat1 sik1 taai3 saan1有眼不識泰山有眼不识泰山
Jyutpingjau5 ngaan5 bat1 sik1 taai3 saan1
Yaleyáuh ngáahn bāt sīk taai sāan
Definition
To overlook, fail to recognize, or underestimate an important or powerful person or thing.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Used primarily as a self-deprecating apology when realizing you have offended or underestimated someone of high status or great talent. It carries a sense of humility, acknowledging your own lack of discernment rather than criticizing the other person. It is almost exclusively used in formal or semi-formal social settings where maintaining face is important.
Examples
I really failed to recognize you, I didn't know you were the big boss.
You didn't even know how capable they are, you really missed seeing someone important.
Related words
Common phrases
really failed to recognize someone important
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone else's ignorance in a neutral way, as it functions as a humble admission of your own mistake. Using it to point out others' lack of knowledge can sound sarcastic or confrontational.
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.
