bun3 go3 zung1半個鐘半个钟
Jyutpingbun3 go3 zung1
Yalebun go jūng
Definition
Half an hour.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Using 鐘 to refer to time duration is standard in Cantonese, whereas Mandarin speakers would typically use 小時. When expressing a duration, it is common to place the aspect marker 咗 directly after the verb, as in 等咗半個鐘, to indicate the elapsed time.
Examples
Do you still have half an hour to prepare?
Common phrases
half an hour
Common mistake
Avoid using 小時 in casual conversation, as it sounds formal or distinctly non-Cantonese. Stick to 鐘 or 個鐘 for all durations involving hours.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
