ngaan5 daai6 tai2 gwo3 lung4眼大睇過籠眼大睇过笼
Jyutpingngaan5 daai6 tai2 gwo3 lung4
Yalengáahn daaih tái gwo lùhng
Definition
To overlook or miss seeing something despite it being right in front of one's eyes.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This idiomatic expression describes the specific frustration of failing to notice something that is right in front of your eyes. It carries a slightly self-deprecating tone, often used when you realize your own carelessness after searching for an item for a long time. It is essentially the Cantonese equivalent of saying you missed something that was staring you in the face.
Examples
You overlooked it; the document was actually on your desk.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being blind or having poor eyesight. It refers specifically to a lapse in attention or a failure of perception despite having the physical ability to see the object.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
