cin1 zoi2 jat1 si4千載一時千载一时
Jyutpingcin1 zoi2 jat1 si4
Yalechīn jói yāt sìh
Definition
Once in a thousand years; a extremely rare opportunity.
writtendescriptionstime
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of urgency and rarity, often used to persuade someone to act immediately. It is a formal idiom that sounds slightly elevated compared to everyday speech, so it is most effective when emphasizing the gravity of a decision. While it literally refers to a thousand years, it is frequently applied to career moves, investments, or life-changing encounters.
Examples
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you must seize it.
Such good conditions are rare, why are you still considering it?
Related words
Common phrases
a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a casual way to say something is rare, but it is actually quite dramatic. Using it for trivial matters, like finding a parking space or a small discount, can sound overly hyperbolic or sarcastic.
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.
