zi1 jat1之一
Jyutpingzi1 jat1
Yalejī yāt
Definition
One of; one among a group or collection.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Functions as a formal marker to indicate that an item belongs to a larger group. While widely understood and used in speech, it carries a slightly more structured or academic tone compared to purely colloquial phrasing. It is almost always placed at the end of a noun phrase to define the scope of the group.
Examples
Is this one of the ways to solve the problem?
Related words
Common phrases
one of the reasons
one of the most important
Common mistake
Learners often try to use it like the English word 'one' in isolation, but it must be preceded by a noun phrase describing the group. You cannot simply say '呢個係之一' to mean 'this is one', as it requires the context of the group it belongs to.
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.
