hou2 noi6好耐
Jyutpinghou2 noi6
Yalehóu noih
Definition
A long time; a long period of time.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Functions as an adverbial phrase of time to describe duration or distance in the past or future. It frequently appears with the aspect marker 咗 to emphasize the duration of an ongoing or completed state. When used to describe a point in the past, it is often paired with 之前 to mean long ago.
Examples
We have waited for a long time, when will you arrive?
This movie was released a long time ago.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English adjective long in phrases like a long road or a long table, where 長 is the correct choice. It specifically refers to the passage of time, not physical length.
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.
