ngaam1 ngaam1 pung3 zoek6 gong1 gong1啱啱碰著剛剛啱啱碰着刚刚
Jyutpingngaam1 ngaam1 pung3 zoek6 gong1 gong1
Yalengāam ngāam pung jeuhk gōng gōng
Definition
By sheer coincidence; as luck would have it.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This expression is a playful, emphatic way of describing a coincidence, often used when something happens at the exact right or wrong moment. It carries a slightly dramatic or humorous tone because of the repetitive structure. It is far more common in casual storytelling than in formal writing.
Examples
I coincidentally happened to see him get off the bus.
Did I coincidentally bump into you just now?
Related words
Common phrases
just happened to be perfectly timed
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 啱啱, which simply means just now. While 啱啱碰著剛剛 also implies timing, it specifically emphasizes the element of chance or coincidence that 啱啱 lacks.
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.
