zau6 lei4就嚟
Jyutpingzau6 lei4
Yalejauh lèih
Definition
Soon; about to; in a short period of time.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Expresses that an event is imminent or about to occur within a very short timeframe. It is frequently paired with the sentence-final particle 喇 to emphasize that the change is happening right now or is just around the corner. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is almost exclusively used in spoken contexts to describe upcoming events.
Examples
Work is ending soon, where are we going for dinner tonight?
I am on the bus and will be downstairs at your place soon.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe events in the distant future, as it implies the action is starting almost immediately. It is not interchangeable with future tense markers like 會, which simply indicate that an event will happen at some point later.
Grammar color guide
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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.
