sin3 ngaan5線眼线眼
Jyutpingsin3 ngaan5
Yalesin ngáahn
Definition
An informer, spy, or scout who secretly gathers information for someone else.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone acting as a secret source of information, often within a workplace or social circle to monitor others. It carries a negative connotation of betrayal or untrustworthiness, similar to a spy or a snitch. Unlike formal terms for informants in police contexts, this is used primarily in casual conversation to describe people who report back to authority figures.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be careful, there might be the boss's informers here.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of eyes or vision, as it is strictly used to describe a person acting as a mole or informant. It is not used to describe someone who is simply observant or has a sharp eye for detail.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
