sin1 si4先時先时

Jyutpingsin1 si4

Yalesīn sìh

Definition

Just now, earlier on, or in the beginning.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Refers to a point in time that occurred before the current moment, often used to contrast a previous state or opinion with the present. It feels slightly more formal or literary than the common spoken alternative 頭先. While it can function as an adverb, it is rarely used in modern casual speech compared to other temporal markers.

Examples

ngo5我sin1先si4時ji5以wai4為keoi5佢m4唔lai4嚟。

I thought he wasn't coming earlier.

nei5你sin1先si4時heoi3去zo2咗bin1邊aa4呀？

Where did you go earlier?

Common phrases

sin1先si4時ge3嘅nam2諗faat3法

previous thoughts

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 頭先, which is the standard way to say just now or earlier in daily conversation. Using 先時 in casual settings can sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a script.