nei4 zan6呢陣呢阵

Jyutpingnei4 zan6

Yalenèih jahn

Definition

Now, recently, or at this moment.

recently; lately
now; at this moment

colloquialtime

How it's used

Refers specifically to a period of time encompassing the present moment and the immediate past or future. It carries a more casual, conversational tone than the written term 最近. It is frequently used to inquire about someone's current state of affairs or to describe ongoing trends.

Examples

nei4呢zan6陣tin1天hei3氣hou2好faan2反fuk1覆，ceot1出gaai1街gei3記dak1得daai3帶ze1遮。

The weather is very changeable recently, remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.

nei5你ne1呢zan6陣mong4忙gan2緊me1咩aa3呀？

What have you been busy with lately?

Common phrases

nei4呢zan6陣si4時

these days

Common mistake

Avoid using this to refer to a specific point in time like 'at this exact second,' as it implies a broader duration. It is not a direct translation for the English word 'now' when used to mean 'immediately,' for which you should use 而家 instead.