jat1 pong4一旁
Jyutpingjat1 pong4
Yaleyāt pòhng
Definition
To the side; aside; by the side.
neutralplacesdaily actions
How it's used
While 一旁 is understood in Cantonese, it sounds slightly more formal or literary compared to the everyday spoken term 側邊. You will often hear native speakers use 埋一邊 when describing someone moving to the side to make space or watch from a distance. It functions primarily as a locative noun indicating a position adjacent to the main action.
Examples
He stood to the side, not daring to make a sound.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 一旁 for a verb phrase, but it is strictly a noun indicating location. Avoid using it as a direct substitute for the action of moving aside, which is better expressed with the verb phrase 埋一邊.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
