daai6 zou2大早
Jyutpingdaai6 zou2
Yaledaaih jóu
Definition
Some time ago; earlier; beforehand.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Use this to express that an event occurred significantly earlier than the present moment or the time of discussion. It carries a sense of slight frustration or surprise that the information or action was not shared or completed sooner. It is distinct from just saying earlier, as it implies a duration of time has passed since the event.
Examples
He left some time ago already.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 大早, which refers to early morning. In Cantonese, this is strictly a temporal adverb for the past, not a time of day.
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.
