jat1 zou2一早

Jyutpingjat1 zou2

Yaleyāt jóu

副詞Very common

Definition

Since a long time ago; early on.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Conveys a sense of frustration or impatience, implying that the speaker has been aware of a situation for a significant amount of time. It is frequently used to emphasize that an outcome was predictable or that an action should have been taken much sooner. When used to mean early in the morning, it is often followed by the particle 嘅 to clarify the timeframe.

Examples

ngo5我jat1一zou2早zi1知keoi5佢wui2會ci4遲dou3到㗎laa1喇。

I knew long ago that he would be late.

nei5你jat1一zou2早gong2講mai1咪mou5冇si6事lo3囉。

If you had said so earlier, there wouldn't be any trouble.

Common phrases

jat1一zou2早zi1知

knew long ago

jat1一zou2早gong2講

said it earlier

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of early in the morning, as context is required to determine if it refers to time elapsed or the start of the day. Using it to mean simply before is incorrect; it specifically carries the weight of a duration that has already passed.