san4 ceot1 gwai2 mut6神出鬼沒神出鬼没
Jyutpingsan4 ceot1 gwai2 mut6
Yalesàhn chēut gwái muht
Definition
To appear and disappear mysteriously, coming and going unpredictably like a god or ghost.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe someone who appears suddenly without warning, this idiom carries a slightly playful or exasperated tone when directed at friends. It implies a sense of unpredictability that can be either impressive, like a skilled professional, or annoying, like a prankster. Unlike formal contexts where it might describe military tactics, in daily speech it focuses on the uncanny timing of a person's arrival or departure.
Examples
He is always coming and going mysteriously; nobody knows where he lives.
Why are you popping up out of nowhere? You scared me to death!
Related words
Common phrases
movements are mysterious and unpredictable
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe inanimate objects or abstract concepts, as it specifically highlights the agency and mysterious movement of a person. It is not a synonym for simply being 'hidden' or 'absent'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
