jat1 dou6一度
Jyutpingjat1 dou6
Yaleyāt douh
Definition
Once; at one point; for a period of time.
neutraltime
How it's used
Focuses on a temporary state or an event that occurred during a specific period in the past. It implies that the situation has since changed or ended, often used in news reports or formal storytelling to describe a brief interruption or a past peak.
Examples
This shop was once very famous.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the noun 一度 meaning one degree or one time, as the adverbial usage specifically highlights a duration of time in the past.
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.
