taai3 jin4 cyu2 zi1泰然處之泰然处之
Jyutpingtaai3 jin4 cyu2 zi1
Yaletaai yìhn chyú jī
Definition
To take things calmly and remain unperturbed in the face of difficulty or change.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of sophisticated composure, often used to describe someone who remains unfazed by pressure or misfortune. It is more formal than everyday conversational Cantonese and is frequently found in news reports or written commentary. Using it in casual speech can make you sound quite eloquent or slightly detached from the situation.
Examples
Facing these unexpected situations, he still takes them in his stride.
Even though he lost the match, he still appeared calm and composed.
Related words
Common phrases
to appear calm and composed
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective meaning calm, but it is a verb phrase describing an action or attitude towards a specific situation. It is not used to describe a person's general personality, but rather their reaction to a particular event.
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.
