ze2 zan6 zi2這陣子这阵子
Jyutpingze2 zan6 zi2
Yalejé jahn jí
Definition
Recently; these days; this period of time.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 呢排 instead of the more formal 這陣子 in daily speech. While 這陣子 is understood, it sounds like a direct translation from written Chinese or Mandarin and can feel slightly stiff or unnatural in a casual conversation. Using 呢排 helps you sound more like a local and fits the rhythm of spoken Cantonese much better.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 這陣子 because it appears in textbooks, but it is rarely heard in casual street-level Cantonese. Stick to 呢排 to avoid sounding like you are reading from a script.
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.
