je6夜
Jyutpingje6
Yaleyeh
Definition
Night; the period between sunset and sunrise.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Functions as a descriptor for time, often appearing in compound words like 夜晚 or 凌晨. When used as an adjective, it describes an action occurring at a late hour rather than the period of darkness itself. It frequently pairs with intensifiers like 好 or 咁 to emphasize the lateness of an hour.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a noun to mean 'night' in isolation, as Cantonese speakers prefer compound forms like 夜晚 or 夜晚頭 for that purpose. Using it alone as a subject or object can sound unnatural or overly literary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
