ngaan5 m4 gin3 wai4 ling4 lei6眼唔見為伶俐眼唔见为伶俐
Jyutpingngaan5 m4 gin3 wai4 ling4 lei6
Yalengáahn m̀h gin wàih lìhng leih
Definition
Out of sight, out of mind; what the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This proverb describes the act of intentionally ignoring unpleasant things to maintain personal peace or avoid conflict. It implies that by not witnessing a problem, one avoids the emotional burden or the obligation to intervene. It is often used when someone chooses to turn a blind eye to a situation they cannot change.
Examples
He behaves so badly at work, I'll just ignore it to save myself the trouble.
Related words
Common phrases
out of sight, out of mind
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of vision, but it is strictly a behavioral strategy for avoiding stress. It is not used to describe actual physical blindness or accidental oversight.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
