tin1天
Jyutpingtin1
Yaletīn
Definition
The sky, or metaphorically heaven, God, and fate.
- sky; the space above the earth including the atmosphere and outer space
- figurativeheaven; God; nature; fate
- day; a period of twenty-four hours
colloquialnatureweather
How it's used
Beyond the physical sky, this word is frequently used to refer to the weather or the atmosphere of a day. It also carries a sense of divine providence or fate, often appearing in expressions about luck or justice. When people say something is like a change in the sky, they are describing a sudden or unpredictable shift in circumstances.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
The sky is very blue today, perfect for an outing.
Look at the sky, it seems like it's about to rain.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the word for day, which is also written as 天. While the character is the same, the context usually makes it clear whether you are talking about the sky above or a unit of time.
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.
