ngaan5 gaai3眼界

Jyutpingngaan5 gaai3

Yalengáahn gaai

Uncommon

Definition

Outlook, horizon, or field of vision; one's scope of experience and knowledge.

neutralpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on the metaphorical scope of one's knowledge and experience rather than physical eyesight. It is almost always paired with verbs indicating expansion or limitation, such as 擴闊 or 窄. Using it to describe literal vision is incorrect and will confuse native speakers.

Examples

heoi3去leoi5旅hang4行zan1真hai6係ho2可ji5以kwong3擴fut3闊ngaan5眼gaai3界。

Going on a trip really can broaden your horizons.

nei5你gin3見sik1識siu2少，ngaan5眼gaai3界zi6自jin4然zaak3窄di1啲。

You have little experience, so your vision is naturally narrower.

Common phrases

kwong3擴fut3闊ngaan5眼gaai3界

broaden one's horizons

ngaan5眼gaai3界

to have one's eyes opened

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 視力, which refers to the medical or physical ability to see clearly. Using 眼界 to describe needing glasses or having blurry vision is a common mistake.