ho4 si4何時何时
Jyutpingho4 si4
Yalehòh sìh
Definition
When; at what time.
writtentime
How it's used
Although 何時 is the formal, written equivalent of when, it is rarely used in spoken Cantonese. Native speakers almost exclusively use 幾時 in daily conversation, even in professional settings. Using 何時 in casual speech can sound overly dramatic or like a line from a period drama.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 何時 because it appears in textbooks, but it sounds unnatural in speech. Stick to 幾時 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
