等...嗰陣時
By the Time
Use 等...嗰陣時 (dang2... go2 zan6 si4) to set a future deadline or reference point. It is the Cantonese equivalent of 'by the time [something happens].'
How It Works
The pattern 等...嗰陣時 is a common way to set a future temporal milestone in colloquial Cantonese.
1. Grammatical Function
Unlike English 'by the time', which is a conjunction, 等 (dang2) remains a verb ('to wait') in a serial verb construction. This is why the pattern is restricted to future or prospective contexts—you are 'waiting' for the event to happen. For past events, Cantonese uses different structures like 嗰陣時 alone.
2. 'By the Time' vs. 'While Waiting'
The meaning of this phrase depends heavily on the main clause:
• By the time: Triggered when the main clause describes a completed state or result, usually marked by 都 (dou1, 'already') or 完 (jyun4, 'finish').
• While waiting for: Triggered when the main clause describes an action performed during the wait. In this sense, it is often used with the progressive marker 緊 (gan2).
3. Common Variants
Speakers often use 等到 (dang2 dou3) to emphasize the duration leading up to the point of attainment. Additionally, 嗰陣時 (go2 zan6 si4) is frequently shortened to 嗰陣 (go2 zan6) in daily conversation.
4. Resultative Focus
To become proficient in this pattern, note that the main clause often uses 就 (zau6, 'then') to show the immediate consequence of the milestone being reached.
Examples (4)
- 等我做完功課嗰陣，天都黑晒喇。
By the time I finish my homework, the sky will be completely dark.
Word by Word: Wait I do-finish homework that time, sky all dark-completely [change of state].
The particle 晒 (saai3) emphasizes that the sky will be 'completely' dark by that future point. The use of 都 (dou1) here triggers the 'by the time' meaning.
- 等佢到嗰陣時，我哋都食完喇。
By the time he arrives, we will have already finished eating.
Word by Word: Wait he arrive that time, we all eat-finish [change of state].
The combination of 都 (dou1) and the terminative particle 完 (jyun4) indicates a completed state by the time the milestone is reached.
- 等緊位嗰陣時，我哋去買杯嘢飲吖。
While waiting for a table, let's go buy a drink.
Word by Word: Wait-ing seat that time, we go buy cup thing drink [softened request].
When the main clause describes an ongoing or new action rather than a result, the phrase means 'while waiting for'. Here, 緊 (gan2) is added to the verb to emphasize the ongoing wait.
- 等到你大個嗰陣時，你就會明㗎喇。
By the time you grow up, you will then understand.
Word by Word: Wait-until you big-size that time, you then understand [fact] [change of state].
This example uses the variant 等到 (dang2 dou3), which makes the 'waiting until' aspect more explicit. The sentence ends with a combination of 嘅 and 喇 (contracted to 㗎喇) to assert a future fact.
Common Mistakes
Using '等' for past events.
等我尋日去到嗰陣時，佢已經走咗。我尋日去到嗰陣時，佢已經走咗。In Cantonese, '等' (dang2) is strictly for future or prospective time. For past events ('When I arrived yesterday...'), simply use '嗰陣時' without the '等'.
Confusing 'by the time' with 'wait until'.
我會喺度等佢嗰陣時。我會喺度等到佢嚟為止。If you mean 'I will wait here until he comes,' use the '等到...為止' (wait until... stop) pattern. '等...嗰陣時' is for marking a point in time, not the duration of the waiting action itself.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand '等...嗰陣時' (by the time), learners first need to be comfortable with the basic '...嗰陣時' structure for 'when'. It also requires familiarity with resultative markers like '晒' and the connector '就' to describe the state of affairs that exists by the time the first action happens.
- ...嗰陣(時)When/at the Time
The pattern '等...嗰陣時' is an extension of the basic '...嗰陣時' (when) structure, adding the 'by the time' nuance.
Level 2 - 就Then/so (Second Clause)
The second clause of a 'by the time' sentence often uses '就' to indicate the result or state that has already occurred.
Level 2 - 晒All / Completely
The example sentence uses '晒' to indicate a completed state (cold), which is common in 'by the time' contexts to show something is already finished.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- 到（終點）Reach / Until
Used to mark a temporal endpoint ('until' or 'up to'), often appearing within the '等' clause to show completion.
Level 2 - 都Also / All
Frequently paired with this pattern to emphasize that a state will 'already' exist by the time the event occurs.
Level 1 - V+完Finish Doing
Commonly used inside the '等' clause to indicate the completion of the prerequisite action (e.g., 'by the time I finish').
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice 等...嗰陣時 in Bubblegum
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