cau3 ngaam1湊啱凑啱
Jyutpingcau3 ngaam1
Yalechau ngāam
Definition
By coincidence; happening by chance.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
湊啱 describes an event that occurs due to a fortunate or unexpected alignment of timing. It is frequently used to explain why someone appeared at a specific place or time without prior planning. Unlike formal expressions for coincidence, this carries a casual, conversational tone suitable for daily storytelling.
Examples
We happened to bump into each other at the door.
Are you just passing by here by coincidence?
Related words
Common phrases
happen to have the right timing
happen to be passing by
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 啱啱, which refers specifically to the timing of something happening just a moment ago. While both involve the character 啱, 湊啱 focuses on the serendipitous nature of the event rather than the recency.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
