kei4 gaan1其間其间

Jyutpingkei4 gaan1

Yalekèih gāan

介詞Common

Definition

During; in the course of a period of time or an event.

writtentimecommunication

How it's used

Functions as a formal connector to describe events happening within a specific timeframe. It is rarely used in casual daily speech, where speakers prefer using 嗰陣時 or 期間 (pronounced with the same characters but often treated as a more standard written term). Using it in a relaxed setting can make your tone sound overly academic or stiff.

Examples

hoi1開wui2會kei4其gaan1間，keoi5佢jat1一zik6直dou1都mou5冇ceot1出gwo3過sing1聲。

During the meeting, he never said a word.

nei5你喺hai2旅leoi5行hang4其kei4間，gaan1有jau5冇mou5去heoi3過gwo3嗰go2間gaan1餐caan1廳teng1呀？

During your trip, did you go to that restaurant?

Common phrases

wui6會ji5議kei4其gaan1間

during the meeting

bei2比coi3賽kei4其gaan1間

during the competition

Common mistake

Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English word 'during' in simple contexts like 'during lunch' or 'during the day', as it sounds unnatural. It is best reserved for formal narratives or written reports.