jau5 jin4 zoi6 sin1有言在先

Jyutpingjau5 jin4 zoi6 sin1

Yaleyáuh yìhn joih sīn

Definition

To make something clear beforehand or give a forewarning.

colloquialcommunication

How it's used

Used primarily in formal or semi-formal contexts to emphasize that a condition or rule was established before an event took place. It carries a sense of firm expectation and is often invoked when someone tries to back out of a prior agreement. While it sounds slightly more literary than everyday speech, it is still frequently used in casual conversation to settle disputes.

Examples

ngo5我dei6哋jau5有jin4言zoi6在sin1先，syu1輸zo2咗jiu3要ceng2請sik6食faan6飯㗎。

We made it clear beforehand, whoever loses has to treat the other to a meal.

nei5你m4唔hou2好m4唔gei3記dak1得，ngo5我dei6哋zi1之cin4前jau5有jin4言zoi6在sin1先㗎gaa4喎。

Don't forget, we already made an agreement about this beforehand.

Common phrases

si6事sin1先jau5有jin4言zoi6在sin1先

to have made it clear beforehand

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it functions more like an adverbial or predicative expression. It cannot be modified by aspect markers like 咗 or 緊, as the phrase itself implies the state of having already spoken.