tin1 ngaan5天眼

Jyutpingtin1 ngaan5

Yaletīn ngáahn

名詞Uncommon

Definition

CCTV, or psychic sight capable of seeing spirits.

slangclosed-circuit television; video surveillance system
figurativepsychic vision; the ability to see the spirit world

colloquialtechnologyother

How it's used

Refers primarily to security cameras in public spaces, acting as a common colloquial synonym for 閉路電視. When used in a supernatural context, it implies a mystical ability to perceive the spirit realm, often associated with religious or folklore traditions. The choice between these two meanings is almost always clear from the surrounding context of the conversation.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

nei1呢dou6度zong1裝zo2咗hou2好do1多zek3隻tin1天ngaan5眼，nei5你siu2小sam1心di1啲aa4呀。

There are many security cameras installed here, be careful.

keoi5佢waa6話zi6自gei2己hoi1開zo2咗tin1天ngaan5眼，ho2可ji5以gin3見dou2到di1啲m4唔gon1乾zeng6淨ge2嘅je5嘢。

He says he has opened his third eye and can see unclean spirits.

Common phrases

hoi1開tin1天ngaan5眼

to gain psychic vision

zong1裝tin1天ngaan5眼

to install security cameras

Common mistake

Do not confuse the security camera meaning with the Mandarin term 天眼, which is sometimes used in mainland China to refer specifically to the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope. In Hong Kong, the term is strictly limited to surveillance or the supernatural.