jyun4 dai2原底
Jyutpingjyun4 dai2
Yaleyùhn dái
Definition
Originally; at first; originally intended to.
colloquialtimeother
How it's used
Expresses an original intention or plan that has since changed or been interrupted. It functions similarly to 'originally' or 'initially' but carries a stronger sense of an expectation that failed to materialize. It is frequently used to explain why a current situation differs from the initial arrangement.
Examples
He was supposed to come today, but he didn't show up in the end.
Were you originally planning to go see a movie?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 本來, which is more standard. While they are interchangeable, 原底 feels slightly more informal and is very common in spoken Cantonese to highlight a discrepancy between the past plan and the current reality.
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.
