waa6 dou1 mou5 gam3 faai3話都冇咁快话都冇咁快
Jyutpingwaa6 dou1 mou5 gam3 faai3
Yalewah dōu móuh gam faai
Definition
Extremely fast; in the blink of an eye or before you know it.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
This idiom emphasizes how surprisingly quickly an event occurred or how easily a task was completed. It is often used to express surprise or to downplay the effort required for a swift action. You will frequently hear it used to describe tasks that were finished unexpectedly early or time that passed by in a flash.
Examples
Before you knew it, he had already finished the whole bowl of rice.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal statement about speed, but it is an idiomatic expression used to highlight the suddenness of an outcome. Avoid using it in formal writing or professional reports as it is strictly a colloquial spoken phrase.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
