joek3 mok2約莫约莫
Jyutpingjoek3 mok2
Yaleyeuk mók
Definition
Approximately, roughly, or about.
neutraltimenumbers
How it's used
This term is slightly more formal or literary than the common colloquial 大概 or 差唔多. It is frequently used when estimating time or quantities in a way that sounds a bit more precise or considered. You will often hear it in narrative contexts or when someone is giving a measured estimate rather than a casual guess.
Examples
He will arrive home at approximately five o'clock.
Approximately how long will you need to finish this?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it as a direct substitute for 差唔多, but 差唔多 is much more versatile and can also mean 'almost' or 'nearly finished', whereas 約莫 is strictly for estimation of values.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
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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.
