coeng4 nin4 leoi5 jyut6長年累月长年累月
Jyutpingcoeng4 nin4 leoi5 jyut6
Yalechèuhng nìhn léuih yuht
Definition
Over many years and months; over a very long period of time.
neutraltimedescriptions
How it's used
This idiom emphasizes the accumulation of time and the resulting wear or change that occurs over that duration. It is often used to describe situations where something has been happening consistently for so long that it has become a permanent state or caused visible consequences. Unlike shorter expressions of time, it carries a sense of endurance or heavy burden.
Examples
He has been working there for many years, and his health has completely deteriorated.
Related words
Common phrases
work done over many years
doing something for years on end
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use this to describe a specific, short-term duration, but it is strictly reserved for long, continuous periods. It is also a formal idiom, so while it is understood in speech, it can sound slightly dramatic or literary depending on the context.
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.
