hoi1 sau2開首开首
Jyutpinghoi1 sau2
Yalehōi sáu
Definition
At first; at the beginning.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Focuses on the initial stage of a process or a narrative rather than just a point in time. It often implies a contrast between the starting situation and how things developed later. While interchangeable with 初初 in many contexts, it carries a slightly more formal or narrative tone.
Examples
At first he wouldn't say, but later he was willing to.
How did you first meet him?
Related words
Common phrases
at the very beginning
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 開頭, which is more commonly used in casual speech to describe the start of a story or a sequence of events. Using 開首 in very informal conversation can sometimes sound slightly stiff or literary.
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.
