gan6 paai4近排
Jyutpinggan6 paai4
Yalegahn pàaih
Definition
Recently; lately; in recent times.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Focuses on the immediate past leading up to the present moment, making it ideal for casual check-ins with friends or colleagues. It often pairs with continuous or habitual actions to describe one's current state of life. Unlike formal written alternatives, it carries a warm and conversational tone that invites a personal response.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to refer to the distant past or specific historical events, as it is strictly reserved for the recent period surrounding the speaker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
