tit3 goek3 maa5 ngaan5 san4 sin1 tou5鐵腳馬眼神仙肚铁脚马眼神仙肚
Jyutpingtit3 goek3 maa5 ngaan5 san4 sin1 tou5
Yaletit geuk máh ngáahn sàhn sīn tóuh
Definition
To have the qualities of a good investigative journalist, namely strong stamina, alertness, and resilience to hunger.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This idiomatic expression serves as a professional standard for investigative journalists, highlighting the specific physical demands of the job. It breaks down into three distinct traits: iron legs for constant movement, horse eyes for staying alert despite sleep deprivation, and a fairy's stomach for enduring irregular meals. While it originated in journalism, it is now occasionally applied to any high-pressure profession that requires extreme physical resilience.
Examples
To be an investigative reporter, you really need to have iron legs, horse eyes, and a fairy's stomach.
Related words
Common phrases
to be an investigative reporter
able to endure hardship
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.
