sin1 hau6先後先后
Jyutpingsin1 hau6
Yalesīn hauh
Definition
Successively, one after another, or in a sequential order.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Focus on the sequence of events rather than just the passage of time. It implies a deliberate or observable order where multiple parties or actions follow a similar pattern. Use this when you want to emphasize that things did not happen simultaneously.
Examples
They entered the room one after another.
You guys go join the queue one by one.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 之後, which simply means afterwards. Use 先後 when you need to highlight the sequential nature of multiple occurrences or people acting in turn.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
