sei3 sap6 nin4 doi6四十年代
Jyutpingsei3 sap6 nin4 doi6
Yalesei sahp nìhn doih
Definition
The 1940s; the decade of the forties in a century.
neutraltime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the decade between 1940 and 1949. It is frequently used when discussing historical developments, cultural shifts, or the origins of long standing businesses in Hong Kong. Unlike English where you might say "the forties," Cantonese speakers almost always include the word 年代 to specify the era.
Examples
This shop opened in the 40s.
Do you know what Hong Kong was like in the 40s?
Related words
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
