soeng4常
Jyutpingsoeng4
Yalesèuhng
Definition
Frequently; often; occurring with a high frequency.
neutraltimedaily actions
How it's used
While 常 is understood in Cantonese, it is primarily a written or formal term. In daily spoken Cantonese, native speakers almost exclusively use 成日 or 間唔中 to express frequency. Using 常 in casual conversation can sound slightly stiff or like a direct translation from written Chinese.
Examples
He often goes to that restaurant to eat.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 常 with 恆常, which specifically refers to something that is regular, routine, or constant, such as 恆常運動 for regular exercise.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
