zoi6 coeng4在場在场
Jyutpingzoi6 coeng4
Yalejoih chèuhng
Definition
To be present in person at the scene of an event.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Focuses on the physical presence of a person at a specific event or location. It is frequently used in legal or investigative contexts, such as when discussing whether someone witnessed an accident or crime. Unlike the Mandarin usage, Cantonese speakers often prefer to use 喺度 to describe general presence, reserving 在場 for more formal or specific situational contexts.
Examples
Were you present at that time?
Many people were present to witness it at the time.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 喺度, which is the standard way to say someone is here or present in a general sense. Using 在場 in casual conversation to mean someone is just standing nearby can sound overly formal or stiff.
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.
