noi6 noi6耐耐
Jyutpingnoi6 noi6
Yalenoih noih
Definition
A long time; a long duration.
colloquialtimedescriptions
How it's used
Primarily used as an emphatic form of 耐, this reduplication emphasizes the duration of time. While some younger speakers might use it as a playful or cutesy way to refer to intimacy, this usage is heavily influenced by Mandarin internet slang and is not considered standard Cantonese. In most everyday contexts, it simply functions as a way to stress that a period of time has been quite extensive.
Examples
We have been waiting for such a long time, when can we eat?
Related words
Common phrases
waited for a very long time
haven't seen each other for a very long time
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin-derived slang for intimacy, as using it that way in a casual Cantonese conversation may cause confusion or sound unnatural to native speakers who only recognize it as a temporal marker.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
