saap3 ngaan5 giu1霎眼嬌霎眼娇
Jyutpingsaap3 ngaan5 giu1
Yalesaap ngáahn gīu
Definition
Attractive at first glance but not upon closer inspection; typically describing a girl or woman.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the fleeting nature of initial attraction, suggesting that the beauty is superficial or dependent on a specific angle or lighting. It is often used in a slightly dismissive or critical tone when someone else is over-praising a person's appearance. The term implies that the initial impression is deceptive and fails to hold up under closer or prolonged scrutiny.
Examples
She is only attractive at first glance; after a while, she seems quite ordinary.
Related words
Common phrases
just attractive at first sight
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely beautiful or consistently attractive, as it specifically highlights a disappointment or a lack of lasting appeal.
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.
