nin4年
Jyutpingnin4
Yalenìhn
Definition
Year; the unit of time representing the period of the Earth's revolution around the Sun.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the calendar year or a duration of time. When discussing the current, previous, or next year, Cantonese speakers prefer using 今年, 舊年, and 下年 instead of the more formal terms found in written Chinese. It is frequently paired with the particle 喇 to emphasize the duration of time passed.
Examples
How old are you this year?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 舊年 with 去年. While 去年 is understood, 舊年 is the standard, natural choice in spoken Cantonese for last year.
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.
