jau5 joek3有約有约
Jyutpingjau5 joek3
Yaleyáuh yeuk
Definition
To have an appointment, date, or plans with someone.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Used primarily to indicate having a prior social commitment or a date, this phrase functions as a predicate rather than a noun in most contexts. It carries a slightly formal or polite nuance compared to saying you are busy, making it a perfect excuse to decline an invitation without sounding blunt. It is rarely used to describe a professional meeting, which would typically be referred to as 開會.
Examples
I have plans tonight, I cannot accompany you.
Do you have plans tomorrow?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean a formal appointment or a business meeting, as it specifically implies a social or personal engagement. Learners often mistakenly use it for any type of scheduled event, but it sounds unnatural when referring to work tasks or doctor visits.
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.
