...嗰陣(時)

When/at the Time

Level 2Sounds Like . . . go2 zan6

Use 嗰陣 (go2 zan6) or 嗰陣時 (go2 zan6 si2) at the end of a phrase to say 'when' something happens. It works for past, present, and future events.

How It Works

The pattern ...嗰陣(時) (go2 zan6 si2) is the standard spoken Cantonese way to create 'when' clauses.

1. Word Order:
In English, we say 'When I was a child...'. In Cantonese, you must flip this: [Clause] + 嗰陣. For example: 我細個 (I was small) + 嗰陣 = 'When I was small'.

2. Pronunciation & Tone Change:
While the character 時 is normally pronounced si4 (low falling), in this specific pattern, it almost always undergoes a tone change to si2 (mid-rising). Saying go2 zan6 si4 sounds robotic; go2 zan6 si2 sounds like a native speaker.

3. Register:
This is mainly colloquial. While 嘅時候 (ge3 si4 hau6) is also used, 嗰陣 is considered more 'native' and less influenced by Standard Written Chinese.

4. Tense:
Although 嗰陣 (go2 zan6) literally means 'that time', it is not restricted to the past. You can use it for future plans or general habits (e.g., 'When you arrive tomorrow...').

Examples (4)

  1. 我細個嗰陣好怕黑。

    When I was small, I was very afraid of the dark.

    Word by Word: I small-size that-time very fear dark.

    Here, 嗰陣 (go2 zan6) marks a past state. Note how it follows the subject and adjective.

  2. 你返到屋企嗰陣時，打畀我呀。

    When you get home, give me a call.

    Word by Word: You return-arrive house that-time, call give me [particle].

    This shows the pattern used for a future event. 嗰陣時 is used with the changed tone 'si2'.

  3. 揸車嗰陣唔好玩電話。

    Don't play with your phone when driving.

    Word by Word: Drive car that-time not good play phone.

    This is a general rule or habit. The subject 'you' is implied before the verb 揸車 (zaa1 ce1).

  4. 食飯嗰陣唔好講嘢。

    Don't talk while eating.

    Word by Word: Eat rice that-time not good speak speech.

    A common command. 嗰陣 functions similarly to 'while' in this context.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 嗰陣 at the start always means 'when'.

    Different Meaning嗰陣我喺日本，每日都食壽司。
    我喺日本嗰陣，每日都食壽司。

    嗰陣我喺日本 is a correct sentence: at the start, 嗰陣 means 'back then' or 'at that time'. To say 'when I was in Japan', put it after the clause: 我喺日本嗰陣。

  • Using the question word 'when' (幾時) to start a clause.

    幾時我收工，我會去買嘢。
    我收工嗰陣，我會去買嘢。

    幾時 (gei2 si4) is mainly the question word ('When is it?'). Starting a plain 'when' clause with it is not the usual way; the natural choice is 嗰陣 after the clause.

How It Connects

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

...嗰陣(時)Level 2When/at the Time

Learn This First

To understand '...嗰陣(時)', learners first need to be familiar with the demonstrative '嗰' (that) and the basic word order of Cantonese, specifically how time expressions and clauses are positioned relative to the main action of the sentence.

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Words in This Pattern

嗰阵嗰阵时