lam4 gan6臨近临近
Jyutpinglam4 gan6
Yalelàhm gahn
Definition
To approach, be close to, or near a certain time or space.
neutraltimeother
How it's used
Focuses primarily on the temporal aspect of approaching a deadline or a specific season. It carries a slightly more formal or literary weight compared to the more common spoken term 差唔多, making it suitable for announcements or serious discussions about schedules. It is rarely used to describe physical proximity between two objects in everyday casual speech.
Examples
With New Year approaching, the streets are full of people shopping.
Are you only starting to study now that the exams are close?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical distance between two people or objects, as it sounds unnatural. Use 近 or 喺附近 instead when talking about location.
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.
