wai4 kei4為期为期
Jyutpingwai4 kei4
Yalewàih kèih
Definition
To last for; to be for a period of.
writtentimework
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or administrative contexts, such as project timelines, contracts, or event schedules. It functions as a verb phrase indicating the duration of an event or agreement. While common in written announcements or formal speech, it sounds stiff and unnatural in casual, intimate conversation.
Examples
This event lasts for three days.
Is your course for a period of two months?
Related words
Common phrases
for a period of one week
for a period of one year
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe the duration of a personal action or a casual activity, as it carries a sense of official scheduling. For everyday duration, use 玩咗三日 or 搞咗兩個月 instead.
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.
