先（才）

Only / Not Until

Level 4Sounds Like sin1

In Cantonese, 先 (sin1) placed before a verb indicates that something happened later than expected ('not until') or that a value is lower than anticipated ('only').

How It Works

The particle 先 (sin1) is a versatile adverb in colloquial Cantonese. Its meaning depends heavily on its position relative to the verb:

1. Temporal Delay ('Not until'): When used with time expressions, it suggests the action happened late.
Example: 佢十點先起身 (He didn't get up until 10:00). This implies the speaker thinks 10:00 is late.

2. Insufficient Quantity ('Only'): When used with numbers or states, it suggests the amount is 'just' or 'only' that much, often contrary to an expectation of more.
Example: 聽日先係星期二 (Tomorrow is only Tuesday). This implies the speaker thought it was already later in the week.

3. Conditional Sequence: It marks a requirement that must be met before the next step can occur.
Example: 做完先准去玩 (You can't go play until you finish).

Key Distinction: Do not confuse this with V + 先 (sin1), which means 'to do something first.' The pre-verbal 先 is about the timing or degree of the event itself.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢尋晚十二點先返屋企。

    He didn't get home until 12:00 last night.

    Word by Word: He last-night twelve o'clock only-then return home.

    Here, 先 (sin1) indicates that returning home happened later than a normal or expected time.

  2. 我而家先知呢件事。

    I only just found out about this now.

    Word by Word: I now only-then know this matter.

    Using 先 (sin1) before the verb 知 (zi1 - to know) emphasizes that the realization was delayed.

  3. 原來聽日先係佢生日。

    It turns out his birthday is not until tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Turns-out tomorrow only-then is his birthday.

    This implies the speaker might have thought the birthday was today or already passed.

  4. 你要食晒啲菜先准食雪糕。

    You aren't allowed to eat ice cream until you eat all your vegetables.

    Word by Word: You need eat-finish [plural-classifier] vegetable only-then permit eat ice-cream.

    In this conditional sentence, 先 (sin1) marks the point at which the permission becomes valid.

  5. 呢件衫先至一百蚊？咁平！

    This shirt is only one hundred dollars? So cheap!

    Word by Word: This [classifier] shirt only-then one-hundred dollars? So cheap!

    The speaker uses 先至 (sin1 zi3), an emphatic version of 先, to highlight that the price is lower than expected.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 先 (sin1) before the verb when you mean 'let me do it first'.

    Different Meaning我先食。
    我食先。

    我先食 is a normal sentence: 先 before the verb means 'I go first' or 'only then' (as in 我而家先食, 'I am only eating now'). To say 'let me eat first, before we do something else', put 先 (sin1) after the verb: 我食先.

  • Using 淨係 (zing6 hai6) when you mean 'only' against an expectation.

    Different Meaning聽日淨係星期三。
    聽日先係星期三。

    聽日淨係星期三 is grammatical but means 'tomorrow is nothing but Wednesday'. To say 'it is only Wednesday' against an expectation, 先 (sin1) is the natural choice.

How It Connects

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先（才）Level 4Only / Not Until

Learn This First

To understand '先' (only/not until), you need to know where to place adverbs in a Cantonese sentence (before the verb). It is also helpful to understand the basic copula '係' since '先' often modifies it to correct a misconception about time or quantity. Finally, contrasting it with '就' helps clarify that '先' implies a delay or a smaller-than-expected amount.

Words in This Pattern