sam2 si4 dok6 sai3審時度勢审时度势
Definition
To evaluate and size up the situation; to assess the current state of affairs.
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of strategic foresight and political or professional savvy. It is frequently used in formal contexts like news reports or workplace discussions to describe someone who knows how to adapt their actions based on shifting circumstances. While it sounds sophisticated, it is still commonly used in everyday speech to praise someone for being sharp or street-smart.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it is a formal idiom that can sound slightly pretentious if used in casual, low-stakes settings like ordering food or chatting about hobbies. Ensure the context involves a decision-making process or a significant change in environment.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
