ceoi4 si4隨時随时
Jyutpingceoi4 si4
Yalechèuih sìh
Definition
At any time; whenever one desires.
colloquialdaily actionstime
How it's used
Often implies an unpredictable or imminent event when used to describe negative situations, such as a sudden change in plans or someone's mood. It serves as a versatile adverb that can modify both intentional actions and spontaneous occurrences. Unlike formal contexts where it might sound rigid, in spoken Cantonese it feels natural and encouraging when offering help.
Examples
If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me anytime.
He could lose his temper at any moment, it's very difficult to deal with.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to mean 'whenever' in the sense of 'every time that' as in 'whenever I see him, I smile'. For that meaning, use 每次 or 幾時都 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
