由

From (Starting Point)

Level 2Sounds Like jau4

由 (jau4) is the primary Cantonese preposition for 'from'. It marks starting points in location, time, sequences, or assigned responsibility.

How It Works

1. Spatial and Temporal Starting Points
In Cantonese, 由 (jau4) specifies where a movement starts or when an action begins in time. For physical starting points or origins, 喺 (hai2) is also extremely common in casual spoken Cantonese (e.g., 我哋喺呢度出發)。When expressing 'from' a location, 由 is heavily paired with directional verbs like 嚟 (lei4 - come) or 去 (heoi3 - go).

  • Location: 我哋由呢度出發。(ngo5 dei6 jau4 ni1 dou6 ceot1 faat3. - We set off from here.)
  • Location (with directional verb): 佢由加拿大嚟。(keoi5 jau4 gaa1 naa4 daai6 lei4. - He comes from Canada.)
  • Time: 會議由兩點開始。(wui6 ji5 jau4 loeng5 dim2 hoi1 ci2. - The meeting starts from 2 o'clock.) Note: For simple start times like "starts at 2 o'clock", Cantonese speakers usually drop the preposition entirely (會議兩點開始).
  • Time (with 起): 由今日起 (jau4 gam1 jat6 hei2 - from today onwards). Pairing 由 with 起 (hei2) is a very common alternative to 開始 (hoi1 ci2).

2. Expressing Ranges: 由...到... and 由...至...
To say 'from A to B', combine 由 (jau4) with 到 (dou3) in everyday spoken Cantonese, or 至 (zi3) in formal or written contexts. This structure applies to physical/spatial travel, time periods, dates, and numerical ranges:

  • Spatial range: 由屋企到公司 (jau4 uk1 kei2 dou3 gung1 si1 - From home to the office)
  • Spoken time range: 由星期一到星期五 (jau4 sing1 kei4 jat1 dou3 sing1 kei4 ng5 - From Monday to Friday)
  • Formal/written range: 由星期一至星期五 (jau4 sing1 kei4 jat1 zi3 sing1 kei4 ng5 - From Monday to Friday)
  • Numerical/life range: 由細到大 (jau4 sai3 dou3 daai6 - From childhood to adulthood / all my life)

3. Assigning Responsibility ('handled by')
由 (jau4) is also used to indicate the person in charge of a task:

  • 呢件事由佢負責。(ni1 gin6 si6 jau4 keoi5 fu6 zaak3. - This matter is handled by him.)

4. Formal Passive Voice ('by')
In formal or written contexts, 由 can be used as a passive marker meaning 'by' (e.g., 呢本書係由佢寫嘅 - ni1 bun2 syu1 hai6 jau4 keoi5 se2 ge3 - This book was written by him). However, 畀 (bei2) is much more common for the passive voice in casual spoken Cantonese.

5. 'Leave It Up To': 由得 (jau4 dak1 / jau2 dak1) and Tone Shift
When 由 functions verbally to mean 'leave it up to someone' or 'let someone do as they wish', you can use the full phrase 由得. In casual speech, learners will hear this pronounced as both jau4 dak1 and with a shifted tone as jau2 dak1. There is also a popular spoken contraction where 得 is dropped and 由 must take Tone 2 (jau2):

  • Full form: 由得佢啦。(jau4 dak1 / jau2 dak1 keoi5 laa1. - Let him be / leave him alone.)
  • Contracted form: 由你揀啦。(jau2 nei5 gaan2 laa1. - It's up to you to choose.)

6. Distinction from 從 (cung4) and 喺 (hai2)

  • 從 (cung4) also means 'from', but it is formal and primarily written. In casual spoken Cantonese, stick to 由 (jau4) or 喺 (hai2).
  • 喺 (hai2) is a locative marker ('at/in'), but it is widely used in everyday Cantonese to mark spatial origins with movement verbs (e.g., 你喺邊度嚟？ - Where do you come from?). However, 喺 cannot replace 由 for time ranges, scales, or assigning responsibility.

7. Causal 'From': 由於 (jau4 jyu1)
Note that 由 also appears in the formal compound 由於 (jau4 jyu1), which means 'due to' or 'because of'. This is used to express the cause or reason for something, rather than a spatial or temporal starting point.

Examples (6)

  1. 我哋由呢度出發。

    We set off from here.

    Word by Word: We from here set off.

    Notice that the prepositional phrase 由呢度 (from here) comes directly before the verb 出發 (to set off).

  2. 佢由加拿大嚟。

    He comes from Canada.

    Word by Word: He from Canada come.

    When expressing 'from' a location, 由 (jau4) is frequently paired with directional verbs like 嚟 (lei4 - to come).

  3. 佢啱啱由倫敦過嚟。

    He just came over from London.

    Word by Word: He just from London come over.

    由 (jau4) specifies London as the starting point of origin for the movement.

  4. 由星期一到星期五我都要返工。

    From Monday to Friday I have to go to work.

    Word by Word: From Monday to Friday I all have to return work.

    Combines 由 (jau4) with 到 (dou3) to mark a starting and ending time boundary.

  5. 呢餐飯由我請客。

    This meal is my treat (handled by me).

    Word by Word: This classifier meal by me treat.

    Here 由 (jau4) marks the person taking financial responsibility for the meal.

  6. 由得佢啦，唔使理佢。

    Let it be / Leave him alone, no need to pay attention to him.

    Word by Word: Let him SFP, no need care him.

    In the phrase 由得 (jau4 dak1), 由 means letting or leaving something alone. When contracted to just 由, it often shifts to Tone 2 (jau2).

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the prepositional phrase after the verb (English word order transfer).

    我哋出發由呢度。
    我哋由呢度出發。

    In Cantonese grammar, prepositions marking origin or direction (like 由) must go before the verb, not after it.

  • Using standard written/formal 從 (cung4) in everyday spoken conversations.

    Different Meaning我從旺角嚟。
    我由旺角嚟。

    Although 從 (cung4) means 'from', using it standalone in casual speech sounds stiff or like reading aloud from a textbook. 由 (jau4) is much more natural.

  • Using 喺 (hai2) instead of 由 (jau4) for non-spatial starting points like dates or responsibilities.

    喺星期一到星期五 / 喺我負責
    由星期一到星期五 / 由我負責

    喺 (hai2) specifically marks locations ('at/in'). Time ranges and assigned duties require 由 (jau4).

How It Connects

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

由Level 2From (Starting Point)

Learn This First

To understand '由' (from), learners should first be comfortable with basic location markers like '喺' and spatial pronouns like 'here' and 'there'. It is also helpful to understand '到' (to/until) as these two patterns are frequently used together to define a path or duration.

Words in This Pattern