ji5爾尔
Jyutpingji5
Yaleyíh
Definition
You or your, the second-person singular pronoun.
writtenpeople
How it's used
This character is strictly literary and archaic in Cantonese, functioning as a formal or classical equivalent to 你. It is almost never used in spoken communication, appearing primarily in idioms or highly stylized written texts. Using it in daily conversation will sound extremely unnatural or like someone performing a period drama.
Examples
Do you all have time today?
Related words
Common phrases
to outwit each other
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a common spoken word due to its appearance in idioms, but it is not a substitute for 你 in any everyday context. It is essentially a classical Chinese pronoun that has been entirely replaced by 你 in modern Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
