sau2 zat6 ngaan5 faai3手疾眼快
Jyutpingsau2 zat6 ngaan5 faai3
Yalesáu jaht ngáahn faai
Definition
Quick and nimble; possessing fast actions and sharp, rapid eyes.
colloquialdescriptionswork
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who is highly efficient and alert, often implying they can react to situations before others even notice them. It is frequently used to praise someone for their agility in a fast-paced work environment or during a task that requires quick reflexes. While it sounds like a formal idiom, it is perfectly natural to use in casual conversation to describe someone's sharp performance.
Examples
He works with quick hands and eyes, and finished everything very fast.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 手忙腳亂, which describes being clumsy and frantic due to being overwhelmed. Ensure you use this only for positive, skillful speed rather than chaotic, unorganized rushing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
