sik1昔
Jyutpingsik1
Yalesīk
Definition
The past; former times.
writtentime
How it's used
This character is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to evoke a sense of nostalgia or historical distance. It rarely appears in casual spoken Cantonese on its own, usually functioning as a prefix in compound words like 昔日 or 往昔. Using it in everyday speech can make you sound overly poetic or like you are reading from a historical text.
Examples
Hong Kong in the past is very different from now.
Do you still remember the happy times of the past?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common noun that can be used freely in conversation, but it is restricted to specific set phrases. Do not use it to mean 'yesterday' or 'last time', as those require 琴日 or 上次.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
