saang2 si6省事
Jyutpingsaang2 si6
Yalesáang sih
Definition
Perceptive, sensible, and understanding.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
省事 is primarily used in spoken Cantonese to describe someone who is quick to grasp the underlying meaning of a situation or someone else's intentions. It implies a level of emotional intelligence or social awareness that allows a person to read between the lines without needing explicit details. It is often used as a compliment to someone who is easy to communicate with because they do not require long explanations.
Examples
He is very perceptive; he understands as soon as you explain.
Related words
Common phrases
very perceptive
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 省事, which means to save trouble or to simplify a process. In Cantonese, the meaning is strictly related to being sharp or perceptive.
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.
