zeon2准
Jyutpingzeon2
Yalejéun
Definition
To permit or allow.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the authority granted by someone in a superior position, such as a parent, teacher, or employer. It acts as a formal or semi-formal way to express permission, often appearing in negative constructions like 唔准 to issue a strict prohibition. When used in a more casual context, people often switch to 畀 to indicate general permission.
Examples
Mom doesn't allow me to go out and play tonight.
Does the company allow bringing pets to work?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 準, which means accurate or on time. While they share the same sound in many contexts, 准 is strictly for permission, whereas 準 is for precision or punctuality.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
