sau2 ci3首次
Jyutpingsau2 ci3
Yalesáu chi
Definition
The first time; an experience that has never occurred before.
writtentime
How it's used
While 首次 is widely understood, it leans towards a formal or written register, often appearing in news reports or official government schemes. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people almost exclusively use 第一次 instead. Using 首次 in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading from a formal document or a news broadcast.
Examples
He won the championship the first time he entered this competition.
Related words
Common phrases
to make one's debut
to make public for the first time
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 第一次. Learners often try to use 首次 in casual settings where it sounds overly stiff or unnatural, whereas 第一次 is the standard, neutral way to express the concept of a first-time experience.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
