gau6 dai2舊底旧底
Jyutpinggau6 dai2
Yalegauh dái
Definition
In the past; previously; formerly.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Carries a nostalgic or reflective tone that feels more grounded and less formal than the standard written term 過去. It is primarily used by older generations to describe states or habits that have since changed. While perfectly understandable to younger speakers, it is rarely part of their active vocabulary.
Examples
This place used to be a piece of wasteland.
Did you live in Sham Shui Po in the past?
Related words
Common phrases
back in those days
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 舊時, which is more commonly used in modern speech to refer to the 'old days' or 'former times'. Using 舊底 in casual conversation might make you sound like you are mimicking an older relative or speaking in a slightly dated style.
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.
