jat1 pit3 je5一撇嘢
Jyutpingjat1 pit3 je5
Yaleyāt pit yéh
Definition
A small part, fraction, or beginning of something.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
Used to describe an abstract, vague, or minor task or situation that is not clearly defined. It functions as a placeholder for a specific item or event that the speaker does not want to name directly or cannot recall immediately. The tone is casual and often implies that the matter is trivial or just one small part of a larger picture.
Examples
He seems to have something he wants to tell me.
Have you finished dealing with that little matter yet?
Common phrases
finish a small matter
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to physical objects or countable items. It is strictly for abstract situations, tasks, or pieces of information.
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.
