zou2 ji5早已
Jyutpingzou2 ji5
Yalejóu yíh
Definition
Long ago; already; for a long time.
colloquialtime
How it's used
While 早已 is understood in writing, native speakers almost exclusively use the phrase 一早 to convey this meaning in speech. Placing 一早 before the verb or adjective emphasizes that the action or state was completed or achieved well in advance of the current moment. It often carries a slight tone of impatience or frustration if the listener is only just finding out about something that should have been obvious.
Examples
I have already eaten.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 早已 in casual conversation as it sounds overly formal or literary. Stick to 一早 to sound natural and local.
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.
