dang2 haa5等下
Jyutpingdang2 haa5
Yaledáng háh
Definition
Wait a moment.
colloquialdaily actionstime
How it's used
Functions as a versatile temporal marker that can mean either a literal short pause or a vague future time. It often softens a request or command, making it sound less abrupt than a direct order. When used to mean later, it implies a short, indefinite duration rather than a specific time on the clock.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 陣間, which specifically refers to a short while later. While 等下 can function as a verb phrase meaning to wait a moment, 陣間 acts as an adverbial phrase for time.
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.
