muk6 cin4目前
Jyutpingmuk6 cin4
Yalemuhk chìhn
Definition
At present; at the moment; currently.
neutraltime
How it's used
Although commonly used in written Cantonese, it can sound slightly formal or journalistic when spoken aloud. In casual daily conversation, native speakers almost always prefer using 而家 or 呢一刻 to convey the same meaning. Using it in a very relaxed setting might make you sound like you are reading from a news report.
Examples
The company does not have extra money to hire people at the moment.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it as a direct translation for now, but it carries a sense of a specific status or situation being temporary. It is not used for simple time references like I am eating now, where 而家 is the only correct choice.
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.
