bun2 san1本身
Jyutpingbun2 san1
Yalebún sān
Definition
Originally; at the beginning; in a prior state.
colloquialtimedescriptions
How it's used
Use this to contrast a past intention or state with a current reality or outcome. It often appears at the very beginning of a sentence to set the context for a subsequent change or contradiction. It is highly versatile and fits into almost any situation where you need to explain the original plan or nature of something.
Examples
Originally I wanted to go see a movie, but it ended up raining heavily.
How did this matter happen in the first place?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can mean 'itself' or 'by nature'. While it can mean 'inherently' in Cantonese, it is much more frequently used to describe a chronological 'originally' or 'at first' in spoken contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
