jat1 ji4 zoi3一而再
Jyutpingjat1 ji4 zoi3
Yaleyāt yìh joi
Definition
Again and again; repeatedly.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of frustration or annoyance, often used when someone repeats a negative action despite previous warnings. It is more formal than the colloquial phrase 一次又一次, which is used more neutrally to describe frequency. You will frequently hear it paired with the particle 咁 to connect it to the following verb phrase.
Examples
He is late again and again, it is really outrageous.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe positive or neutral repeated actions, but it is almost exclusively reserved for negative behaviors or mistakes that cause irritation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
