gaai1 jan4 jau5 joek3佳人有約佳人有约
Jyutpinggaai1 jan4 jau5 joek3
Yalegāai yàhn yáuh yeuk
Definition
To have a date or appointment (used of women).
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This phrase is a literary and slightly poetic way to describe a woman having a romantic engagement. It carries a sense of elegance or playfulness that makes it sound more sophisticated than simply saying 有約會. People often use it in a slightly teasing or dramatic tone when someone is unavailable due to a date.
Examples
She has a date tonight and cannot keep you company.
She has a date tomorrow, are you still asking her out?
Related words
Common phrases
unfortunately she has a date
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a man having a date, as the term specifically refers to a female. Using it for a male would sound incorrect and confusing to native speakers.
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.
