gau2 bat1 gau2久不久
Jyutpinggau2 bat1 gau2
Yalegáu bāt gáu
Definition
Occasionally; once in a while.
colloquialtime
How it's used
This phrase describes actions that happen at irregular, infrequent intervals rather than on a fixed schedule. It carries a sense of casualness and is often used to describe social interactions or habits that are not strictly routine. It is a very natural way to express that something is not a daily occurrence but still happens from time to time.
Examples
He comes back to visit us once in a while.
Do you go to that restaurant to eat occasionally?
Related words
Common phrases
once in a blue moon
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 幾耐, which asks about duration or frequency in a question format. Remember that 久不久 is an adverbial phrase describing the frequency itself, not a question word.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
