zaak6 jat6擇日择日
Jyutpingzaak6 jat6
Yalejaahk yaht
Definition
To choose a suitable date for an event.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Often used when planning significant life events like weddings, moving house, or starting a business, where traditional customs suggest consulting an almanac for an auspicious date. The phrase 擇日不如撞日 is a common idiom meaning that if an opportunity presents itself now, there is no need to delay by picking a future date.
Examples
You need to pick a date for the wedding, have you two decided yet?
Since we are both free, why don't we just go tomorrow instead of picking another day?
Common phrases
there is no time like the present
Common mistake
Learners sometimes mistake this for simply picking any random day on a calendar, but it carries a connotation of intentionality or seeking good fortune, rather than just scheduling an appointment.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
