cam4 jat6噚日㖊日
Jyutpingcam4 jat6
Yalechàhm yaht
Definition
Yesterday; the day before today.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the day immediately preceding the current one. It is the standard, everyday term in spoken Cantonese, whereas the formal written equivalent is 昨日. Using the latter in casual conversation can sound overly stiff or like a reading from a news broadcast.
Examples
I didn't go to work yesterday.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it with future tense markers or contexts, as it is strictly for the past. Beginners sometimes confuse it with 聽日, which means tomorrow, due to the similar sound and common usage in time-related sentences.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
