sau2 kei4首期
Jyutpingsau2 kei4
Yalesáu kèih
Definition
The first phase or instalment; a down payment for a purchase.
- the first phase; the first stage
- a down payment; the first instalment of a payment
neutralmoneywork
How it's used
Primarily refers to the initial down payment for a property purchase or the opening phase of a large-scale development project. It functions as a noun indicating the starting portion of a financial obligation or a timeline. When discussing construction or business projects, it emphasizes the completion of the preliminary stage rather than the money involved.
Measure word
bat1筆bātExamples
You need to pay a lot of money for the down payment when buying a flat.
When will the first phase of this project be finished?
Related words
Common phrases
to pay the down payment
first phase of construction
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the general term for a first installment of a loan, which is usually referred to as 頭期. While they are often used interchangeably in casual speech for down payments, 首期 is more formal and standard for project phases.
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.
