zou2 di1早啲
Jyutpingzou2 di1
Yalejóu dī
Definition
Earlier, or sooner.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Adding 啲 to adjectives is the standard way to express a comparative degree in Cantonese. Using 早啲 instead of simply 早 makes a request sound much softer and more polite, as it implies a gentle suggestion rather than a strict command. It is extremely versatile and fits into almost any context where you want to encourage someone to act ahead of schedule.
Examples
You should get up earlier tomorrow.
Can you come home a bit earlier?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 比較 before an adjective to compare, but this is a Mandarin structure that sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Always use the adjective followed by 啲 to indicate a comparative state.
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.
