Done, doing, or ever
Put finished, happening now, and ever-done side by side.
Put finished, happening now, and ever-done side by side.. Work through clear examples, then lock it in with interactive Cantonese practice in the YumCha app.
Done, doing, or ever
You have met all three time markers on their own. Now line them up. One says you **finished** something, one says you are **in the middle of** it, and one says you have **done it before** at some point in your life. Same verb, three little markers, three very different meanings. Let's put them side by side.
Three markers, one verb
食咗 = ate · 食緊 = eating now · 食過 = have eaten before
All three sit straight after the verb, but each points to a different time. 咗 marks an action that is finished. 緊 marks an action going on right now. 過 marks something you have done at least once before, so it pairs naturally with 未 (not yet) in a question. Pick the marker by the meaning you want, not by the verb.
Have you eaten yet?
I have, I already ate at the office earlier.
When we're free, shall we go hiking together?
I'm hiking right now, I'll reply to you later.
Have you ever been to Japan?
I have, last year I went travelling with my family.
Same verb, three times
One marker says the action is **finished**, one says it is **happening right now**, and one says you have **done it before**. The verb never changes, only the little marker after it does. Choose by the meaning you want and you can place any action in time.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Done, doing, or ever lesson free?
Yes. This Cantonese lesson is free to read online, with romanization and meanings for every word. In the YumCha app, your first lesson is free to try, and vocabulary practice, flashcards, and the dictionary stay free. A subscription unlocks the full interactive lesson path.
What romanization is used?
Both Jyutping and Yale, and you can switch between them. The romanization sits above every word, so you always know the pronunciation.
Do I need to read Chinese characters to start?
No. Romanization sits above every character and audio plays each word, so you can start speaking from your first lesson.