gwong1 jam1光陰光阴
Jyutpinggwong1 jam1
Yalegwōng yām
Definition
Time.
writtentime
How it's used
Literary and poetic in nature, this term is rarely used in casual, everyday speech. It is mostly encountered in idioms, formal writing, or when someone wants to sound particularly reflective or dramatic about the passage of time. Using it in a mundane context, such as talking about a bus schedule, will sound overly formal or even sarcastic.
Examples
Time is precious, don't waste it.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a direct synonym of 時間, but it carries a weight of nostalgia or urgency that the neutral term lacks. Avoid using it in routine situations where a simple 時間 or 陣係 more appropriate.
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.
