jau5 paai4有排
Jyutpingjau5 paai4
Yaleyáuh pàaih
Definition
Taking quite some time; needing a long while.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Emphasizes the significant duration or delay involved in completing a task or waiting for an event. It often carries a sense of frustration or resignation regarding the length of time required. It is frequently paired with particles like 先 or 喇 to heighten the feeling of a long wait.
Examples
This report is going to take a long time to finish.
The queue goes all the way to the street corner, we'll be waiting for a long time.
Related words
Common phrases
a long wait ahead
going to take a long time to sort out
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the noun 排, which refers to a row or a line. While it often appears in contexts involving waiting in line, the phrase 有排 specifically functions as an adverbial expression indicating a long duration.
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.
