zau6 hai6就係就系
Jyutpingzau6 hai6
Yalejauh haih
Definition
To be exactly; precisely is.
colloquialdescriptionscommunication
How it's used
Use this to emphasize that a specific subject perfectly matches a description or identity. It carries a sense of finality or discovery, often used when pointing something out that was previously being sought. It is much more emphatic than simply using 係.
Examples
This is exactly the answer I wanted.
Are you, by any chance, the new colleague?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 就算, which means even if or granted that. Ensure you are using it to confirm an identity rather than introducing a concession.
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.
