gu2 si4 hau6古時候古时候
Jyutpinggu2 si4 hau6
Yalegú sìh hauh
Definition
Ancient times; a period in the distant past at least several hundred years ago.
neutraltime
How it's used
Refers specifically to a distant, historical past, often carrying a sense of storytelling or myth. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation unless discussing history or folklore. For more recent past periods, speakers prefer terms like 以前 or 舊時.
Examples
People in ancient times lived very simple lives.
Do you know how people lived their lives in ancient times?
Related words
Common phrases
people of ancient times
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe your own childhood or the recent past, as it implies a time period centuries ago. Use 以前 for anything within living memory.
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.
