gau2 wai4久違久违
Jyutpinggau2 wai4
Yalegáu wàih
Definition
Unseen or unexperienced for a long time; long-awaited.
colloquialtimedescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe a sense of nostalgia or relief when finally returning to a familiar activity or person after a long absence. While it functions as an adjective, it is frequently used with the particle 嘅 to modify nouns, such as 久違嘅感覺, or as a predicate following 係.
Examples
It has been ages since I last came to this restaurant, I haven't eaten here in a long time.
You finally decided to show up today, it's been such a long time!
Related words
Common phrases
a long-lost feeling
a long-absent smile
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb meaning to miss someone, but it is strictly an adjective describing the state of time passed since a previous occurrence. Do not use it to express the act of missing a person, which is better served by 掛住.
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.
