lai5 baai3 jat1禮拜一礼拜一
Jyutpinglai5 baai3 jat1
Yaleláih baai yāt
Definition
Monday.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Using 禮拜一 is significantly more common in spoken Cantonese than the formal term 星期一. While 星期一 is perfectly acceptable in writing or professional settings, 禮拜一 feels more natural and relaxed in daily conversation. Note that 禮拜 itself can also mean week, so context usually clarifies whether you are referring to the day or the duration.
Examples
Do you have to go to work on Monday?
I have arranged to go see a movie with a friend on Monday.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 禮拜一 to mean one week; for that, use 一個禮拜. Beginners sometimes confuse the two because of the shared characters.
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.
