waai4 jan6懷孕怀孕
Jyutpingwaai4 jan6
Yalewàaih yahn
Definition
To be pregnant.
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How it's used
While 懷孕 is the standard term used in formal or medical contexts, it can sound slightly clinical in casual conversation. People often prefer using the more colloquial phrase 有咗 to describe being pregnant in everyday life. Using 懷孕 is perfectly acceptable, but it carries a more serious or informative tone compared to the common spoken alternative.
Examples
She has been pregnant for three months and doesn't seem to feel very well.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 懷孕 as a noun, but it functions primarily as a verb. If you want to describe the state of being pregnant, you should use it with an aspect marker like 懷孕咗 or pair it with a duration.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
- How oftenUsually, sometimes, all the time, rarely, never. All five sit in one slot, between the subject and the verb.
- 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.
