sin1 jat1 paai4先一排

Jyutpingsin1 jat1 paai4

Yalesīn yāt pàaih

Definition

A while ago; some time earlier.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Refers to a period of time in the recent past, usually spanning from a few days to a few weeks. It is highly flexible and can describe a specific event that happened or a general state of being during that recent window. Unlike formal temporal markers, it carries a casual tone suitable for catching up with friends or colleagues.

Examples

ngo5我sin1先jat1一paai4排heoi3去zo2咗leoi5旅hang4行aa4呀。

I went on a trip a while ago.

nei5你sin1先jat1一paai4排hai6係mai6咪hou2好mong4忙㗎？

Have you been very busy lately?

Common phrases

sin1先jat1一paai4排gin3見gwo3過

met a while ago

sin1先jat1一paai4排mong4忙gan2緊

was busy a while ago

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 之前, which is a more general term for 'before' or 'previously'. 先一排 specifically emphasizes a recent, continuous stretch of time rather than a single point in the past.