zing3 zik6正值
Jyutpingzing3 zik6
Yalejing jihk
Definition
To happen at the exact time of another uncontrollable, natural, or environmental event.
writtentime
How it's used
Focuses on a specific point in time that is often beyond human control, such as a season, a stage of life, or a weather condition. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to everyday spoken Cantonese, making it more common in news reports, written descriptions, or formal speeches than in casual conversation. It implies a sense of coincidence or inevitability regarding the timing of the event.
Examples
It is currently summer vacation, so many students are going on trips.
They are in the prime of their lives and should work hard.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it as a direct synonym for the casual word 嗰陣, but it is not interchangeable because it lacks the flexibility to describe simple personal activities or specific clock times.
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.
