heoi2咻
Jyutpingheoi2
Yalehéui
Definition
Perfective aspect marker in early Cantonese, equivalent to the modern "zo2".
dateddaily actions
How it's used
Historical texts like the 1906 Cantonese New Testament frequently use this character to mark the completion of an action. It functions exactly like the modern 咗, but it is now considered archaic and is never used in contemporary spoken Cantonese. You will only encounter it when reading older literature, religious texts, or historical documents written in the vernacular style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not attempt to use this in modern conversation, as it will sound extremely strange or unintelligible to native speakers. Always use 咗 instead.
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.
