ji6 go3 zi6二個字二个字
Jyutpingji6 go3 zi6
Yaleyih go jih
Definition
Two words; ten minutes.
- two words
- ten minutes
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to ten minutes because each character on a clock face represents five minutes. It is a very common way to express a short duration in casual conversation. Using it to mean literally two words is rare and usually sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese.
Examples
Wait for me for ten minutes, I will be down very soon.
You still have ten minutes to prepare.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of two words, as it almost exclusively refers to time in daily life. Learners often mistakenly use it for literal word counts, which can cause confusion.
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.
