cin4 tau4前頭前头
Jyutpingcin4 tau4
Yalechìhn tàuh
Definition
In front, ahead, or before.
colloquialplacestransport
How it's used
Refers specifically to a physical location or position ahead of the speaker. It often implies a sense of movement or leading, making it common when discussing directions or the order of people in a line. While interchangeable with 前面 in many contexts, it carries a slightly more colloquial and spatial feel.
Examples
You walk in front and lead the way, I don't know the way.
Is that shop in front closed down for good?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes refer to the beginning of a process or time, as in Cantonese it is almost exclusively used for physical space.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
