gei2 sap6 nin4幾十年几十年

Jyutpinggei2 sap6 nin4

Yalegéi sahp nìhn

Common

Definition

Several decades; dozens of years.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Used to describe a long span of time, often to emphasize the endurance of a relationship, a habit, or the history of a place. It carries a sense of nostalgia or deep familiarity, suggesting that the subject has stood the test of time. While it literally means several decades, it is frequently used as a hyperbolic expression to mean a very long time.

Examples

keoi5佢hai2喺ni1呢dou6度zyu6住zo2咗gei2幾sap6十nin4年laa3喇。

He has lived here for several decades.

nei5你dei6哋sik1識zo2咗gei2幾sap6十nin4年，gam2感cing4情jat1一ding6定hou2好hou2好。

You two have known each other for decades, your bond must be very strong.

Common phrases

gei2幾sap6十nin4年lai4嚟

over the past few decades

gei2幾sap6十nin4年gaau1交cing4情

decades of friendship

Common mistake

Avoid using this to refer to a specific number of decades, as it is an indefinite quantifier. If you want to specify exactly thirty years, use 三十年 instead.