...嘅時候

When (Bookish)

Level 3Sounds Like . . . ge3 si4 hau6

Use ...嘅時候 (ge3 si4 hau6) to set the time frame for an action, similar to 'when' or 'while' in English. It is the standard, slightly more formal way to express time in Cantonese.

How It Works

The pattern [Event/State] + 嘅時候 (ge3 si4 hau6) is a fundamental temporal subordinator in Cantonese. While it is highly frequent in written Cantonese and formal speech, it is also used in daily life when a speaker wants to be clear or polite.

1. Structure and Placement
In Cantonese, temporal markers are placed at the end of the time-clause.
Example: [食飯] (eating) + [嘅時候] (when) = When eating.

2. Register and Nuance
While 嘅時候 is perfectly natural, it carries a slightly 'proper' or 'educated' tone. In very casual, fast-paced conversation, native speakers often swap it for the colloquial ...嗰陣 (go2 zan6).

3. Time Neutrality
This pattern does not change based on tense. You can use it for:

  • Past: 我細個嘅時候 (When I was small)
  • Habitual: 翻工嘅時候 (When/while working)
  • Future: 去旅行嘅時候 (When [I] go traveling)

4. Comparison with Mandarin
This is the direct equivalent of the Mandarin structure '...的時候' (de shíhou). Because of this, it is the standard choice for subtitles and formal announcements.

Examples (4)

  1. 食飯嘅時候唔好講嘢。

    Don't talk while eating.

    Word by Word: Eat rice [possessive] time not good talk things.

    Here, 嘅時候 (ge3 si4 hau6) acts as 'while', setting the condition for the main command 'don't talk'.

  2. 我細個嘅時候住喺香港。

    When I was small, I lived in Hong Kong.

    Word by Word: I small [possessive] time live at Hong Kong.

    細個 (sai3 go3) means 'small' or 'young'. The pattern refers to a past state.

  3. 搭飛機嘅時候我都會睇書。

    When taking a plane, I always read books.

    Word by Word: Ride airplane [possessive] time I all will read book.

    This describes a habitual action. 都 (dou1) is used here to emphasize 'always/in all cases'.

  4. 你翻嚟嘅時候話我知吖。

    Let me know when you come back.

    Word by Word: You return come [possessive] time tell I know [particle].

    This refers to a future event. 話我知 (waa6 ngo5 zi1) is a common way to say 'let me know'.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'when' at the beginning of the sentence.

    嘅時候我食飯，我唔講嘢。
    我食飯嘅時候，我唔講嘢。

    In English, 'when' starts the clause. In Cantonese, 嘅時候 (ge3 si4 hau6) must follow the verb or event.

  • Omitting the linker 嘅 (ge3).

    Different Meaning我細個時候住喺香港。
    我細個嘅時候住喺香港。

    After a whole clause such as 我食飯, 嘅 (ge3) is normally needed before 時候. After a short phrase like 細個, 嘅 is optional, so 我細個時候住喺香港 is fine.

How It Connects

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

...嘅時候Level 3When (Bookish)

Learn This First

To understand '...嘅時候', you need to know how the particle '嘅' links descriptions to nouns. You should also be familiar with the standard colloquial way to express 'when' using '...嗰陣時', as this pattern is a more formal alternative often found in written or serious contexts.

Words in This Pattern

时候