soeng6 nin4上年
Jyutpingsoeng6 nin4
Yaleseuhng nìhn
Definition
Last year; the year before the current year.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the calendar year immediately preceding the current one. While it functions as a time noun, it does not require a preposition like 喺 when used to indicate when an action occurred. It is the standard, everyday way to express this concept, whereas 舊年 is a common variant used interchangeably in speech.
Examples
I went to Japan for a trip last year.
Did you live here last year?
Related words
Common phrases
the end of last year
the middle of last year
Common mistake
Avoid using 去年 in casual conversation, as it sounds formal and is more common in written Chinese or Mandarin contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
