知人 [－－]

Jyutping zi1 jan4
Pinyin zhī rén

Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. verb, archaic
    to be an insightful and astute judge of character
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    选举咁多花边，你点知人哋系咪只系做场戏俾你睇啫。
    選舉咁多花邊，你點知人哋係咪只係做場戲俾你睇啫。
    syun2 geoi2 gam3 do1 faa1 bin1, nei5 dim2 zi1 jan4 dei6 hai6 mai6 zi2 hai6 zou6 coeng4 hei3 bei2 nei5 tai2 ze1
    • There is so much gossip going around in this election. How could you know whether people are making a mountain out of a molehill?
  2. Cantonese
    佢明知人哋惊曱甴，仲呃人哋睇图，真系好仆街。
    佢明知人哋驚曱甴，仲呃人哋睇圖，真係好仆街。
    keoi5 ming4 zi1 jan4 dei6 geng1 gaat6 zaat2, zung6 ngaak1 jan4 dei6 tai2 tou4, zan1 hai6 hou2 puk1 gaai1.
    • He tricked her into opening that page with pictures of cockroaches, knowing that she's scared of them. He's such a jerk.
  3. Cantonese
    知人口面不知心，呢个世界唔系咁简单㗎。
    知人口面不知心，呢個世界唔係咁簡單㗎。
    zi1 jan4 hau2 min6 bat1 zi1 sam1, ni1 go3 sai3 gaai3 m4 hai6 gam3 gaan2 daan1 gaa3.
    • You can't know people's mind from their faces. The world is not that simple.
  4. Cantonese
    你明知人哋结咗婚重钟意人，何苦呢？
    你明知人哋結咗婚重鍾意人，何苦呢？
    nei5 ming4 zi1 jan4 dei6 git3 zo2 fan1 zung6 zung1 ji3 jan4, ho4 fu2 ne1?
    • Why suffer through his love if you knew that he was married all along?
  5. Cantonese
    知人口面不知心
    知人口面不知心
    zi1 jan4 hau2 min6 bat1 zi1 sam1
    • You can't know what someone is thinking in his head.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Cantonese
    当然，May姐会觉得，上次你班友想迫宫，点知人数唔够就失败咗，依家就用大是大非的脱欧事件夹佢走，可恶也。
    当然，May姐会觉得，上次你班友想迫宫，点知人数唔够就失败咗，依家就用大是大非的脱欧事件夹佢走，可恶也。
    dong1 jin2, May ze2 wui5 gok3 dak1, soeng6 ci3 nei5 baan1 jau2 soeng2 baak1 gung1, dim2 zi1 jan4 sou3 m4 gau3 zau6 sat1 baai6 zo2, ji1 gaa1 zau6 jung6 daai6 si6 daai6 fei1 dik1 tyut3 au1 si6 gin6 gep6 keoi5 zau2, ho2 ok3 jaa5.
    • Of course, [Theresa] May would think that it is something abominable, when last time these folks tried to force her to resign, which failed somehow because of not enough people [supporting], and this time they're trying to remove her [from her position as Prime Minister] using the controversial Brexit topic as a reason.
  2. Mandarin
    知人知面不知心
    知人知面不知心
    zhī rén zhī miàn bù zhī xīn
    • One may know a person for a long time without understanding his true nature
  3. Mandarin
    岁月不知人间多少的忧伤，何不潇洒走一回
    歲月不知人間多少的憂傷，何不瀟灑走一回
    suì yuè bù zhī rén jiān duō shǎo di yōu shāng ， hé bù xiāo sǎ zǒu yī huí
    • Time does not know how much distress is in our world; why not live life in an unrestrained way?