zau6 lai4就來就来
Jyutpingzau6 lai4
Yalejauh làih
Definition
Soon; nearly; almost; close to happening.
colloquialtime
How it's used
The character 嚟 is the standard written form for the colloquial sound used in this phrase, though some people use 來. It functions as a temporal marker indicating that an event is imminent or a location is about to be reached. It is frequently paired with the particle 喇 to emphasize that the change of state is happening right now.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 嚟緊, which usually refers to an ongoing process or something happening in the immediate future, whereas 就嚟 specifically highlights the proximity of a deadline or arrival.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
