saa1 aa3 jat1卅呀一
Jyutpingsaa1 aa3 jat1
Yalesā a yāt
Definition
Thirty-one.
colloquialnumberstime
How it's used
Pronouncing the number thirty-one as 卅呀一 is a distinctively colloquial way to emphasize the individual digits, often used when clarifying a date or age to avoid confusion. It breaks the standard reading of 卅一 into three distinct beats by inserting the particle 呀, which functions as a rhythmic filler. This is rarely seen in formal writing and is strictly a feature of spoken Cantonese.
Examples
I am thirty-one years old this year.
Is your birthday on the thirty-first?
Common phrases
the thirty-first day of the month
thirty-one years old
Common mistake
Do not use this form in formal contexts like business documents or official forms, as it will sound overly casual or even childish. Stick to the standard 卅一 for any written or professional communication.
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.
