hoi1 ci2開始开始
Jyutpinghoi1 ci2
Yalehōi chí
Definition
To begin, start, or initiate a process or action.
colloquialdaily actionstime
How it's used
Focuses on the transition from a state of inactivity to activity. It is frequently used with the aspect marker 咗 to indicate that an action has already commenced. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is often paired with particles like 啦 or 呀 to soften the tone in conversation.
Examples
Let's start working now.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use it as a noun to mean 'beginning' or 'start', but it functions primarily as a verb in Cantonese. For the noun form, use 開頭 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
