je6 maa4 maa4夜麻麻
Jyutpingje6 maa4 maa4
Yaleyeh màh màh
Definition
Late at night, suggesting it is an inappropriate time to do something.
colloquialtime
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of disapproval or surprise, implying that the time is inappropriately late for the action being performed. It is almost always used to question or criticize someone's behavior, such as being out on the street or making noise when most people are already asleep. Unlike the neutral term 夜晚, this expression emphasizes the lateness as a potential nuisance or a safety concern.
Examples
He called me in the middle of the night.
Related words
Common phrases
going out late at night
disturbing others late at night
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple time noun, but it functions more like an adverbial phrase describing an inconvenient time. It is not used to describe the time of day in a neutral, factual way, such as in a weather report or a schedule.
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.
