Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Time Phrases - Today, Tomorrow
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna! Ready for some Cantonese fun today. Lucas: Luna, we've learned a lot of words for things like food, weather, and family. But how do we talk about time? Like, what if someone asks 'When is the party?' Luna: Oh, that's a good point. We've got numbers, but not 'today' or 'tomorrow'. Lucas: Exactly. So today, we're learning three super useful time words: 今日, 聽日, and 琴日. Luna: Three words? Let's hear 'em! Lucas: First up: 今日. That's 'today'. Luna: Gum yat? Wait, how do you say it slowly? Lucas: gam1 jat6. 今日. Luna: Gam yat. 今日. Lucas: Perfect! Now, 聽日. That's 'tomorrow'. Luna: Ting yat? 聽日. Lucas: Yes! And 琴日 is 'yesterday'. Luna: Kam yat? 琴日. Lucas: You got it. So let's practice with a mini scene. Imagine I ask you: 今日係星期幾？That means 'What day is today?' Luna: So I could say: 今日係星期三。Today is Wednesday! Lucas: Exactly! And if I ask about a party: 派對係聽日？Is the party tomorrow? Luna: Yeah, I could say: 係，派對係聽日。Yes, the party is tomorrow. Lucas: Perfect. And if you want to say 'I went yesterday': 我琴日去咗。 Luna: Wait, that uses the verb 'go' from before. 我琴日去咗. Lucas: You're using it naturally! Let's do another scene. Luna, what did you do yesterday? Luna: Hmm... I can say: 我琴日食咗蘋果。I ate an apple yesterday! Lucas: Oh, that's great! You remembered 'eat' and 'apple'. Luna: Yeah, from the verb and fruit episodes. So I can combine old and new. Lucas: Exactly. Now, what are you doing today? Luna: 今日我學廣東話。Today I learn Cantonese! Lucas: Aww, I love that! And tomorrow? Luna: 聽日我會聽呢個podcast。Tomorrow I will listen to this podcast! Lucas: Wow, you just used 'will' naturally. But we haven't taught that yet! Let's keep it simple: 聽日我聽podcast。Tomorrow I listen to podcast. Luna: Got it. 聽日我聽podcast. Lucas: Let's practice all three. Repeat after me: 今日. Luna: 今日. Lucas: 聽日. Luna: 聽日. Lucas: 琴日. Luna: 琴日. Lucas: Today is hot: 今日好熱. Luna: 今日好熱. That's from the weather episode! Lucas: Yes! And if it was hot yesterday: 琴日好熱. Luna: 琴日好熱. And tomorrow will be cold: 聽日好凍. Lucas: Absolutely! You're mixing episodes like a pro. Luna: So with these three words, I can talk about any day. Let me try a full sentence: 我今日飲咖啡。I drink coffee today. Lucas: Perfect. And if you drank coffee yesterday: 我琴日飲咖啡. Luna: 我琴日飲咖啡. And tomorrow I'll drink tea: 聽日我飲茶. Lucas: Yes! But careful: 聽日我飲茶 is fine. Or you could say 我聽日飲茶. Luna: So the time word can go at the beginning or after the subject? Lucas: Exactly. Both are natural. Let's do a quick roleplay. I'll ask: 你今日做咩？What are you doing today? Luna: 我今日睇書。I read a book today. Wait, is 睇書 right? Lucas: Yeah, 睇書 is 'read a book'. Great! And what about yesterday? Luna: 琴日我睇咗電影。Yesterday I watched a movie. Did I use 咗 right? Lucas: Yes! 咗 indicates past action. So 琴日我睇咗電影 is perfect. Luna: Oh, that's awesome. So 琴日 is for past, and I add 咗 to the verb? Lucas: Exactly. And for today, you don't need 咗 unless it's already done. For tomorrow, you can use 會 for 'will', but for now, just use the verb plain. Luna: Okay, so 聽日我去街。Tomorrow I go out. Lucas: Perfect! Now let's listen to a short conversation. Imagine me and a friend. Friend: 今日好熱啊。 Me: 係呀，琴日都係好熱。明日會涼啲。Friend: 真係？太好啦。 Luna: I caught most of it! 今日好熱, 琴日好熱, and 明日會涼啲? Wait, you said 聽日 earlier, not 明日. Lucas: Good catch! 聽日 is more common in Cantonese. 明日 is more formal. Let's stick with 聽日. Luna: Okay, so: 聽日會涼啲 means 'Tomorrow will be cooler'? I remember 涼 from somewhere. Luna: Right. So let me recap: 今日 is today, 聽日 is tomorrow, 琴日 is yesterday. Lucas: You've got it! Now, let's do a quick quiz. I say the English, you say the Cantonese. Luna: Bring it on! Lucas: Today. Luna: 今日. Lucas: Tomorrow. Luna: 聽日. Lucas: Yesterday. Luna: 琴日. Lucas: Nailed it! And now a sentence: I ate an apple yesterday. Luna: 我琴日食咗蘋果。 Lucas: Perfect. One more: Tomorrow I will drink tea. Luna: 聽日我飲茶。 Lucas: Excellent. You're ready to talk about time in Cantonese. Luna: This is so useful. I can already plan my week! 今日, 聽日, 琴日. Lucas: And don't forget to practice with friends. You can ask: 你今日做咩？ Luna: 好問題! What a great question. Lucas: That's it for today's episode. Keep practicing 今日, 聽日, and 琴日. Luna: Thanks, Lucas! And thanks to you, listeners, for learning with Fexingo. Lucas: See you next time! 拜拜！ Luna: 拜拜！