hap1 haau2恰巧
Jyutpinghap1 haau2
Yalehāp háau
Definition
By chance, coincidentally, or accidentally.
colloquialother
How it's used
While 恰巧 exists in formal writing, native speakers almost exclusively use 咁啱 in daily speech. The phrase 咁啱得咁蹺 is a common four character idiom used to emphasize that a coincidence is particularly surprising or strange.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 咁啱 with just 啱, as 啱 alone usually means correct or just right. Always use the full 咁啱 when you want to express the sense of by chance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
