gaap3 zi2甲子
Jyutpinggaap3 zi2
Yalegaap jí
Definition
A cycle of sixty years in the traditional Chinese calendar.
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How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional sexagenary cycle used in Chinese astrology and historical dating. While it literally represents the first year of this cycle, it is widely used as a synonym for a sixty-year period in a person's life. It carries a formal or literary weight, often appearing in discussions about longevity or historical eras.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is sixty years old this year, having just completed a full sixty-year cycle.
Common phrases
the first year of the sixty-year cycle
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the general term for a decade or century. Remember that it is strictly tied to the sixty-year cycle and is not used for other time spans.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
