jat1 tin1一天
Jyutpingjat1 tin1
Yaleyāt tīn
Definition
One day.
neutraltime
How it's used
While 一天 is understood, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 一日 to express the duration of one day. Using 一天 often sounds like a direct translation from written Chinese or Mandarin, making it feel slightly formal or stiff in spoken conversation. Stick to 一日 for natural, everyday communication.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 一天 because it matches the written form, but it sounds unnatural in casual speech. Always prefer 一日 when talking about time duration or calendar dates.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
