sai3 si4細時细时
Jyutpingsai3 si4
Yalesai sìh
Definition
During one's childhood; when one was young.
colloquialtimepeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the period of childhood and is almost exclusively used in spoken contexts. It functions as a time adverbial placed at the beginning of a sentence or immediately after the subject. It carries a nostalgic tone and is frequently used when sharing personal anecdotes or comparing past habits with the present.
Examples
I loved going to the park to play when I was young.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe the youth of others in a formal or objective sense, as it is deeply tied to personal experience and informal storytelling. It cannot be used as a noun to mean 'childhood' in the way that 童年 functions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
