haa4暇
Jyutpinghaa4
Yalehàh
Definition
Leisure or free time.
writtentime
How it's used
Unlike the common colloquial term 得閒, which functions as an adjective meaning free or available, 暇 is a formal noun that specifically refers to the concept of leisure or spare time. It is almost exclusively found in compound words like 閒暇 or 餘暇 rather than being used as a standalone word in casual conversation. Using it in daily speech can sound overly literary or stiff.
Examples
Do you have any free time later to go shopping with me?
I have been very busy lately and have absolutely no leisure time to rest.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly try to use 暇 as a direct substitute for 得閒, but they are not interchangeable. You can say 我得閒, but you cannot say 我暇.
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.
