tai2 zan1睇真
Jyutpingtai2 zan1
Yaletái jān
Definition
To look carefully or see clearly.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This phrase functions as a resultative construction where the second character acts as a complement indicating the success or precision of the action. It is frequently paired with the particle 啲 to soften the tone or suggest a more thorough inspection. You will often hear it used when someone is skeptical about a previous observation or needs to verify a detail.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 睇清楚 instead of 睇真. While both are understood, 睇真 is more idiomatic in casual spoken Cantonese when you are physically inspecting something or checking a detail on a screen or document.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
