jat1 cai4一齊一齐

Jyutpingjat1 cai4

Yaleyāt chàih

動詞Very common

Definition

To start or be in a romantic relationship together.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

While 一齊 is commonly used to mean together in a general sense, such as doing things together, it carries a specific romantic connotation when used with aspect markers like 咗. It functions as a euphemism for starting a formal relationship, avoiding the more clinical or formal terms found in written Chinese. It is the standard way to ask if two people are a couple.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋gei2幾si4時hoi1開ci2始jat1一cai4齊㗎？

When did they start dating?

ngo5我tung4同keoi5佢jat1一cai4齊zo2咗bun3半nin4年laa1喇。

I have been in a relationship with him/her for half a year.

Common phrases

tung4同jan4人jat1一cai4齊

to be in a relationship with someone

Common mistake

Beginners often confuse the romantic meaning with the general meaning of together. If you say 我哋一齊食飯, it means we are eating together, not that we are dating. The context and the presence of 咗 are usually what signal the romantic shift.