saam1 nin4三年

Jyutpingsaam1 nin4

Yalesāam nìhn

Common

Definition

Three years.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Time durations in Cantonese often follow the verb directly, especially when using 咗 to indicate the duration has already elapsed. Unlike Mandarin, there is no need to add a particle like 啦 between the verb and the time phrase when describing an ongoing state that started in the past.

Examples

ngo5我hai2喺ni1呢dou6度zou6做zo2咗saam1三nin4年laa3喇。

I have been working here for three years.

nei5你dei6哋sik1識zo2咗saam1三nin4年gam3咁noi6耐aa4呀？

Have you two known each other for as long as three years?

Common phrases

saam1三nin4年si4時gaan3間

a period of three years

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly insert 嘅 between the verb and the time duration, such as saying 做嘅三年, which is grammatically incorrect. The duration should follow the verb or the object directly.