ji1伊
Jyutpingji1
Yaleyī
Definition
Third-person pronoun (he, she, or it) or demonstrative pronoun (that).
- literaryhe; she; it; him; her
- literarythat
writtenpeople
How it's used
Primarily used in written Cantonese or formal literary contexts to mean that or he/she. It is rarely heard in casual spoken Cantonese, where 佢 or 嗰個 are the standard choices. You will mostly encounter it in older literature, song lyrics, or when someone is trying to sound poetic or old-fashioned.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
that person
Common mistake
Do not use this in daily conversation as it will sound unnatural or overly dramatic. Stick to 佢 for he/she and 嗰個 for that person to ensure you sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
