tai2 zeon2 hei2 faai3睇準起筷睇准起筷
Jyutpingtai2 zeon2 hei2 faai3
Yaletái jéun héi faai
Definition
To wait for the right moment before taking action; to act only when the time is ripe.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
This expression uses the imagery of a dining table, where one waits for the best piece of food before picking it up with chopsticks. It implies a strategic patience rather than mere hesitation. It is often used to describe someone who is calculated and avoids wasting effort on bad opportunities.
Examples
Don't be so impatient, wait for the right moment before you act.
He is very smart in business, he always acts at the perfect moment.
Related words
Common phrases
to spot the right opportunity
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being slow or indecisive. The phrase specifically highlights the act of waiting for a high-value target or a guaranteed success, not a lack of courage to act.
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.
