jat1 tiu4 jat1 tiu4一條一條一条一条
Jyutpingjat1 tiu4 jat1 tiu4
Yaleyāt tìuh yāt tìuh
Definition
One by one; strip by strip; item by item.
colloquialdaily actionsfood
How it's used
Reduplication of measure words is a common way in Cantonese to describe a process happening incrementally or to emphasize the resulting state of multiple items. Using 一條一條 implies a deliberate, step-by-step action rather than a single, sweeping motion. It is frequently paired with the particle 咁 to connect the adverbial phrase to the verb.
Examples
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often forget to add 咁 after the reduplicated phrase, which is necessary to link it to the verb describing the action. Without 咁, the sentence may sound incomplete or grammatically awkward to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
