ji5 loi4以來以来
Jyutpingji5 loi4
Yaleyíh lòih
Definition
Since then, so far, or during the period from a specified time up to the present.
neutraltime
How it's used
Functions primarily as a temporal marker indicating a duration starting from a specific point in the past up to the present. It is almost always preceded by a time phrase or a starting point, such as 由或者自. While it can appear in formal writing, it is also frequently used in spoken Cantonese to emphasize the continuity of a state or habit.
Examples
He has loved drawing ever since he was little.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse it with 之後, but 以來 specifically requires a starting point to measure the duration. Using it without a preceding time reference makes the sentence sound incomplete or grammatically awkward.
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.
