heoi2 gau2許久许久
Jyutpingheoi2 gau2
Yalehéui gáu
Definition
A long time; for a long time.
writtentime
How it's used
Use 好耐 instead of 許久 in almost all spoken contexts to sound natural. 許久 is strictly reserved for formal writing, literature, or very dramatic speech. Using it in casual conversation will make you sound like you are reciting a poem or reading from a historical novel.
Related words
Common phrases
long time no see
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 許久 in daily speech because they see it in dictionaries, but it is completely unnatural in a casual chat with friends. Always stick to 好耐 for spoken Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
