咁耐

In All the Time Since

Level 4Sounds Like gam3 noi6

Use 咁耐 (gam3 noi6) after a verb with 咗 (zo2) to highlight a specific span of time, often to express surprise, a complaint, or a realization about that duration.

How It Works

The pattern [Verb] + 咗 + 咁耐 (gam3 noi6) is a core Cantonese structure for discussing duration with emphasis.

1. Demonstrative Nuance and Subjectivity
While 好耐 simply means 'a long time,' 咁耐 means 'this long' or 'so long.' It refers to a specific duration that the speaker and listener are both aware of. It often carries a subjective tone of surprise, impatience, or disbelief (e.g., 'Why has it taken this long?').

2. 'In all the time since'
To express 'ever since' or 'in all the time since' an event happened, Cantonese uses the phrase 咁耐以嚟 (gam3 noi6 ji5 lai4). While formal Chinese uses 自從 (zi6 cung4), mixing it with 咁耐 is often redundant. Stick to [Verb] + 咗 + [Object] + 咁耐以嚟 for a natural colloquial feel.

3. Sentence Structure and Objects
When a verb has an object, there are three ways to handle the word order:

  • Topic-Comment (Most Natural): [Object] + [Subject] + [Verb] + 咗 + 咁耐 (e.g., 呢本書我睇咗咁耐).
  • Verb Repeating: [Verb] + [Object] + [Verb] + 咗 + 咁耐 (e.g., 睇書睇咗咁耐).
  • Duration-Object: [Verb] + 咗 + 咁耐 + [Object] (e.g., 睇咗咁耐書).

4. Standalone Predicate
Unlike some duration markers, 咁耐 can function as a standalone predicate. For example, 唔使咁耐 (m4 sai2 gam3 noi6) means 'It doesn't need to be that long' or 'It shouldn't take that long.'

Examples (6)

  1. 識咗你咁耐，都唔知你識彈琴。

    In all the time I've known you, I didn't know you could play the piano.

    Word by Word: Know [perfective] you this long, also not know you know play piano.

    Here, 咁耐 (gam3 noi6) establishes the long duration of the friendship as a reason why the speaker is surprised by the new information.

  2. 等咗咁耐都冇巴士，不如搭的士啦。

    We've waited so long and still no bus; how about we take a taxi?

    Word by Word: Wait [perfective] this long also not-have bus, not-as take taxi [suggestion].

    The speaker uses 咁耐 to emphasize that the waiting time has reached a point where a change of plan is necessary.

  3. 呢本書我睇咗咁耐都未睇完。

    I've been reading this book for so long and still haven't finished it.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] book I read [perfective] this long also not-yet read finish.

    This demonstrates the Topic-Comment structure, where the object 呢本書 (ni1 bun2 syu1) is moved to the front for emphasis.

  4. 去咗外國咁耐以嚟，佢仲係好鍾意食廣東菜。

    In all the time since he went abroad, he still really likes eating Cantonese food.

    Word by Word: Go [perfective] foreign country this long since, he still is very like eat Guangdong food.

    The phrase 咁耐以嚟 (gam3 noi6 ji5 lai4) is the standard way to say 'in all the time since' or 'ever since' in colloquial Cantonese.

  5. 做咗咁耐都未做完？

    You've been doing it this long and you're still not finished?

    Word by Word: Do [perfective] this long also not-yet do finish?

    Using 咁耐 in a question often implies a sense of impatience or disbelief at how much time has passed.

  6. 唔使咁耐呀？

    It doesn't need to take that long, does it?

    Word by Word: Not need this long [question]?

    This shows 咁耐 acting as a standalone predicate to mean 'that long' or 'this long'.

Common Mistakes

  • Misplacing the object between the verb and the aspect marker.

    我教書咗咁耐。
    我教咗咁耐書。 / 我教書教咗咁耐。

    In Cantonese, the aspect marker 咗 (zo2) must be attached directly to the verb. You cannot place the object 書 (syu1) between the verb and the duration complement unless you repeat the verb.

  • Using 咁耐 when you want a neutral 'how long' question.

    Different Meaning你住咗咁耐？
    你住咗幾耐？

    你住咗咁耐 is a natural sentence, but it sounds surprised ('You've lived here this long?!'). For a neutral question use 幾耐 (gei2 noi6): 你住咗幾耐？

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

咁耐Level 4In All the Time Since

Learn This First

To understand '咁耐' (in all this time / so long), learners first need to know the degree marker '咁' (so/this) and the concept of duration ('耐'). Since this pattern often describes the span of an action that started in the past and continues or has consequences now, familiarity with the perfective aspect '咗' is essential for constructing natural sentences.

Words in This Pattern