tau4 sin1頭先头先
Jyutpingtau4 sin1
Yaletàuh sīn
Definition
A moment ago; just now; very recently.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers strictly to the immediate past within the same day or a very recent timeframe. It cannot be used to describe events from yesterday or last week, for which you should use 啱啱 or 之前 instead. It functions as an adverb of time and typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or immediately after the subject.
Examples
Who were you talking to on the phone just now?
I just ate a bun, so I am not hungry now.
Related words
Common phrases
only just now
Common mistake
Do not use it to describe something that happened a long time ago, as it specifically implies the event occurred only moments before the present moment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
