si4 si4時時时时
Jyutpingsi4 si4
Yalesìh sìh
Definition
Often; constantly; always; happening very frequently at short intervals.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Use this to describe habits or recurring actions that happen at short, frequent intervals. While it functions similarly to 成日, it carries a slightly more formal or literary tone compared to the purely colloquial 成日. It is particularly effective when emphasizing that a situation is a persistent state rather than a one-off event.
Examples
Do you always go to that restaurant to eat?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean 'at all times' or 'every second' like the English word 'always' can imply. It specifically refers to frequency and repetition, so it sounds unnatural if used to describe a permanent, unchanging state like 'I am always happy'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
