dong1 si4 dak1 ling6當時得令当时得令
Definition
Timely, opportune, or highly appropriate for the current season or occasion.
How it's used
Originally referring to seasonal crops that are at their peak harvest time, this expression has expanded to describe anything that is currently fashionable or highly sought after. It carries a sense of being perfectly aligned with the current trend or environmental conditions. You will often hear it used to describe seasonal food, popular fashion items, or even people who are currently enjoying a period of great success or influence.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe something that is simply 'on time' or 'punctual', as it specifically refers to being in season or in vogue. It is an idiomatic descriptor for popularity or peak timing rather than a literal measurement of a clock.
Grammar color guide
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.
