canny

/ˈkæni/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæni] /ˈkæni/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæni] /ˈka-nē How to pronounce canny (audio)/ (ame, mw)

canny — 形容詞

  • cannypositive
  • canniercomparative
  • canniestsuperlative

1. showing sharp practical judgment and quick thinking, especially when money, deal

1.形容詞C1
釋義

精明的

尤指談錢談事時判斷很快的

showing sharp practical judgment and quick thinking, especially when money, deals, or politics are involved.

例句

Omar made a canny offer and bought the cafe for less.

Omar 提出精明的出價，結果用更低的價錢買下了那間咖啡館。

a canny offer in a business deal

Lan was canny enough to read the loan terms twice.

Lan 很精明，把貸款條款看了兩遍才肯答應。

be canny enough to + verb

同義詞
  • shrewd

    the closest broad synonym, often with a slightly tougher tone

  • savvy

    more modern and often tied to practical knowledge or experience

  • astute

    more formal and less tied to money or bargaining situations

反義詞
  • naive

    lacking the worldly judgment that canny implies

  • gullible

    too ready to trust and therefore easy to deceive

文法句型

a canny + investor/move/offer

be + canny + enough + to-infinitive

a canny + answer/decision

用法筆記

Often describes people, choices, or replies in situations where someone protects an advantage by thinking ahead. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about shrewd judgment, not simply something being pleasant or nice.

常見錯誤

❌My uncle is canny because he never tips anyone.
✅My uncle is stingy because he never tips anyone.
💡'canny' suggests shrewd judgment, not simple unwillingness to spend money.

2. pleasant or appealing in a simple, friendly way.

2.形容詞C2
釋義

不錯的；討喜

帶地方口吻，指讓人喜歡的

pleasant or appealing in a simple, friendly way.

例句

What a canny little cafe to find on a rainy street.

在雨天街上找到這樣一間小咖啡館，真是間不錯的地方。

what a canny + noun

Sofia thought the gift was canny and thanked her aunt at once.

Sofia 覺得那份禮物很討喜，立刻就向阿姨道了謝。

同義詞
  • nice

    broader everyday word with less regional flavor

  • pleasant

    more neutral and less warm or local in tone

  • lovely

    warmer and often more enthusiastic

反義詞
  • unpleasant

    lacking the easy, agreeable feeling of this sense

  • poor

    describes something not good or satisfying

文法句型

a canny + little + noun

be + canny

what a canny + noun

用法筆記

Mainly a regional British use, especially in warm comments about small places, gifts, or outings. Distinguish from sense 1: here canny means pleasant or nice, not shrewd or strategically clever.

常見錯誤

❌The report gives a canny explanation of inflation.
✅The report gives a clear explanation of inflation.
💡this regional sense is a friendly word for something pleasant or nice, not a formal compliment for analysis.

canny — 副詞