zau3 je6晝夜昼夜
Jyutpingzau3 je6
Yalejau yeh
Definition
Day and night; a full twenty-four hour period.
neutraltime
How it's used
While 晝夜 is understood in spoken Cantonese, it carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to the more common 日頭夜晚. It is frequently used in idioms or set phrases to describe continuous, relentless action. You will often hear it used to emphasize the duration of a task or a persistent state of mind.
Examples
They work day and night without stopping, it is really exhausting.
Related words
Common phrases
day and night without stopping
to have one's day and night reversed
Common mistake
Avoid using 晝夜 in casual, everyday conversation when referring to simple timeframes, as it can sound overly dramatic or like a written text. Use 日頭夜晚 instead for natural speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
