baat3 nin4八年
Jyutpingbaat3 nin4
Yalebaat nìhn
Definition
Eight years.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Time durations in Cantonese often place the duration after the verb and the aspect marker 咗. When discussing a span of time like this, the sentence structure naturally emphasizes the duration of the action or state rather than just the number itself.
Examples
Common phrases
eight-year war of resistance
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
