jyu1於
Jyutpingjyu1
Yaleyū
Definition
In, on, or at, indicating the time or place of an occurrence.
writtentimeplaces
How it's used
Used almost exclusively in formal writing or specific set phrases, this character rarely appears in casual spoken Cantonese. In everyday speech, speakers prefer using 喺 for locations or simply omitting a preposition when discussing time. It carries a literary tone that makes it sound out of place in a relaxed conversation.
Examples
He was born in Hong Kong and likes it here very much.
This incident happened last week.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use it like 喺 in daily speech, which sounds unnatural and overly stiff. Stick to 喺 for physical locations and avoid using it for casual time references.
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.
