jat1 lap1 zung1一粒鐘一粒钟
Jyutpingjat1 lap1 zung1
Yaleyāt lāp jūng
Definition
One hour.
colloquialtime
How it's used
This expression is the standard way to refer to a duration of sixty minutes in casual speech. It carries a slightly more informal and rhythmic feel compared to the more neutral 一個鐘. Using 粒 as a classifier for time is a distinctively Cantonese habit that highlights the colloquial nature of the phrase.
Examples
I have been waiting for an hour, you still haven't arrived?
Taking the bus to work takes a whole hour.
Related words
Common phrases
a whole hour
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to a specific time on the clock, such as one o'clock, which is 一點. It is strictly for measuring the duration of an event.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
