25 Useful Cantonese Time Expressions with Sentences _ Learn Cantonese Part 5
PART 5 — TIME & TIME EXPRESSIONS
25 Common Cantonese Vocabulary for Intermediates
101. In Advance / Ahead of Time
提前 — tai4 cin4
如果你想改上堂時間，記得提前一日通知我。
jyu4 gwo2 nei5 soeng2 goi2 soeng5 tong4 si4 gaan3, gei3 dak1 tai4 cin4 jat1 jat6 tung1 zi1 ngo5.
If you want to change your lesson time, remember to let me know one day in advance.
102. On Time / Punctual
準時 — zeon2 si4
佢返工從來都唔遲到，次次都好準時。
keoi5 faan1 gung1 cung4 loi4 dou1 m4 ci4 dou3, ci3 ci3 dou1 hou2 zeon2 si4.
He/She is never late for work and is always punctual.
103. Late
遲到 — ci4 dou3
今日塞車塞得好緊要，所以我遲到咗十分鐘。
gam1 jat6 sak1 ce1 sak1 dak1 hou2 gan2 jiu3, so2 ji5 ngo5 ci4 dou3 zo2 sap6 fan1 zung1.
The traffic was terrible today, so I was ten minutes late.
104. Early / Earlier
早啲 — zou2 di1
聽日要早起身，今晚早啲瞓啦。
ting1 jat6 jiu3 zou2 hei2 san1, gam1 maan5 zou2 di1 fan3 laa1.
You need to wake up early tomorrow, so go to bed earlier tonight.
105. Later / A Little Later
遲啲 — ci4 di1
我而家忙緊，遲啲再打畀你。
ngo5 ji4 gaa1 mong4 gan2, ci4 di1 zoi3 daa2 bei2 nei5.
I'm busy right now. I'll call you later.
106. Temporarily / For the Time Being
暫時 — zaam6 si4
我暫時未有時間處理呢件事。
ngo5 zaam6 si4 mei6 jau5 si4 gaan3 cyu2 lei5 ni1 gin6 si6.
I don't have time to deal with this for the time being.
107. For a Long Time
好耐 — hou2 noi6
我哋好耐冇見，不如搵日食餐飯？
ngo5 dei6 hou2 noi6 mou5 gin3, bat1 jyu4 wan2 jat6 sik6 caan1 faan6?
We haven't seen each other for a long time. How about having a meal together sometime?
108. A Little While / A Moment
一陣 — jat1 zan6
你等我一陣，我好快就返嚟。
nei5 dang2 ngo5 jat1 zan6, ngo5 hou2 faai3 zau6 faan1 lai4.
Wait for me a moment. I'll be back soon.
109. Just Now / A Moment Ago
頭先 — tau4 sin1
頭先邊個打電話畀你？
tau4 sin1 bin1 go3 daa2 din6 waa2 bei2 nei5?
Who called you just now?
110. Recently / Not Long Ago
早排 — zou2 paai4
我早排病咗幾日，而家好返晒。
ngo5 zou2 paai4 beng6 zo2 gei2 jat6, ji4 gaa1 hou2 faan1 saai3.
I was sick for a few days not long ago, but I've fully recovered now.
111. All Along / All This Time
一直 — jat1 zik6
我一直都想學識游水，但係仲未有機會。
ngo5 jat1 zik6 dou1 soeng2 hok6 sik1 jau4 seoi2, daan6 hai6 zung6 mei6 jau5 gei1 wui6.
I've always wanted to learn how to swim, but I haven't had the chance yet.
112. From Now On
以後 — ji5 hau6
以後我會早啲出門口，費事又遲到。
ji5 hau6 ngo5 wui5 zou2 di1 ceot1 mun4 hau2, fai3 si6 jau6 ci4 dou3.
From now on, I'll leave home earlier so I won't be late again.
113. In the Past / Previously
以前 — ji5 cin4
我以前住喺香港，而家住喺美國。
ngo5 ji5 cin4 zyu6 hai2 hoeng1 gong2, ji4 gaa1 zyu6 hai2 mei5 gwok3.
I used to live in Hong Kong, but now I live in the United States.
114. In the Future
將來 — zoeng1 loi4
你將來想做乜嘢工作？
nei5 zoeng1 loi4 soeng2 zou6 mat1 je5 gung1 zok3?
What kind of job would you like to do in the future?
115. At the Beginning / At First
初初 — co1 co1
初初學廣東話嗰陣，我覺得啲聲調好難。
co1 co1 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 go2 zan6, ngo5 gok3 dak1 di1 sing1 diu6 hou2 naan4.
When I first started learning Cantonese, I found the tones very difficult.
116. Eventually / In the End
最後 — zeoi3 hau6
我諗咗好耐，最後都係決定留喺屋企。
ngo5 nam2 zo2 hou2 noi6, zeoi3 hau6 dou1 hai6 kyut3 ding6 lau4 hai2 uk1 kei2.
I thought about it for a long time and eventually decided to stay home.
117. Halfway Through / In the Middle Of
中途 — zung1 tou4
睇戲睇到中途，突然停電。
tai2 hei3 tai2 dou3 zung1 tou4, dat6 jin4 ting4 din6.
The power suddenly went out halfway through the movie.
118. At the Same Time
同時 — tung4 si4
我冇辦法同時做兩樣嘢。
ngo5 mou5 baan6 faat3 tung4 si4 zou6 loeng5 joeng6 je5.
I can't do two things at the same time.
119. Consecutively / Continuously
連續 — lin4 zuk6
呢幾日連續落雨，啲衫都乾唔切。
ni1 gei2 jat6 lin4 zuk6 lok6 jyu5, di1 saam1 dou1 gon1 m4 cit3.
It's been raining for several days in a row, and the clothes haven't had time to dry.
120. Occasionally / Once in a While
間中 — gaan3 zung1
我平時好少飲咖啡，間中先飲一杯。
ngo5 ping4 si4 hou2 siu2 jam2 gaa3 fe1, gaan3 zung1 sin1 jam2 jat1 bui1.
I rarely drink coffee. I only have a cup once in a while.
121. From Time to Time / Every Now and Then
週不時 — zau1 bat1 si4
佢做功課嗰陣，週不時望吓手機。
keoi5 zou6 gung1 fo3 go2 zan6, zau1 bat1 si4 mong6 haa5 sau2 gei1.
He/She checks the phone from time to time while doing homework.
122. As Soon As Possible
盡快 — zeon6 faai3
收到你嘅訊息之後，我會盡快覆你。
sau1 dou2 nei5 ge3 seon3 sik1 zi1 hau6, ngo5 wui5 zeon6 faai3 fuk1 nei5.
I'll reply to you as soon as possible after receiving your message.
123. At the Last Minute / In a Rush
臨急臨忙 — lam4 gap1 lam4 mong4
你唔好臨急臨忙先執行李呀！
nei5 m4 hou2 lam4 gap1 lam4 mong4 sin1 zap1 hang4 lei5 aa3!
Don't wait until the last minute to pack your luggage!
124. Sooner or Later
遲早 — ci4 zou2
你成日唔夠瞓，遲早會影響健康。
nei5 seng4 jat6 m4 gau3 fan3, ci4 zou2 wui5 jing2 hoeng2 gin6 hong1.
You never get enough sleep. Sooner or later, it'll affect your health.
125. In the Blink of an Eye / Time Flies
眨吓眼 — zaap3 haa5 ngaan5
眨吓眼又一年，時間過得真係快！
zaap3 haa5 ngaan5 jau6 jat1 nin4, si4 gaan3 gwo3 dak1 zan1 hai6 faai3!
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. Time really flies!