ging1 soeng4經常经常
Jyutpingging1 soeng4
Yalegīng sèuhng
Definition
Often; frequently; happening repeatedly over short intervals.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
While 經常 is perfectly acceptable in spoken Cantonese, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer 成日 in casual conversation. Using 經常 can sound slightly more formal or literary, similar to how one might use 'frequently' instead of 'often' in English. Reserve 經常 for more serious discussions or written contexts to sound more natural.
Examples
Do you often go to that restaurant to eat?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 經常 with 成日. While they share the same meaning, 成日 is the default choice for daily life, whereas 經常 can sound a bit stiff or like a direct translation from written Chinese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
