dou3 kei4 si4到其時到其时
Jyutpingdou3 kei4 si4
Yaledou kèih sìh
Definition
By that time; when the time comes.
colloquialtime
How it's used
This phrase is used to defer a decision or action to a future point that is currently uncertain. It carries a sense of pragmatism, suggesting that worrying about the details now is unnecessary because the situation will clarify itself later. It is frequently used to reassure others or to dismiss pressure to plan too far ahead.
Examples
You will know when the time comes.
Let's think of a solution when the time comes.
Related words
Common phrases
worry about it when the time comes
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 到時, which is much more common in daily speech. While both are interchangeable, 到時 is the default choice for almost all casual contexts, whereas 到其時 sounds slightly more formal or emphatic.
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.
