下晝好
haa3 zau3 hou2
下晝好 (haa3 zau3 hou2) is how you say good afternoon in Cantonese.
下晝好 is a greeting used specifically during the afternoon hours.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
How do you pronounce it?
haa3 zau3 hou2
Did you know?
- In many Cantonese-speaking households, greeting elders in the afternoon is often done by asking about their meal or their health rather than using a time-specific greeting.
- The term for 'afternoon' in 下晝好, which is 下晝, literally translates to 'below the noon', reflecting how the time is perceived in relation to the midday peak.
- In Hong Kong, you might hear people mix Cantonese and English by saying 'Good afternoon' even while speaking Cantonese. This is a result of the city's colonial history and bilingual culture.
Example conversation
Two colleagues meet in the office hallway.
- 志強 Chi Keung雅婷，下晝好！Jaa5 ting4, haa6 zau3 hou2!Ya Ting, good afternoon!
- 雅婷 Nga Ting志強，下晝好！Zi3 keong4, haa6 zau3 hou2!Zi Keong, good afternoon!
- 志強 Chi Keung你食咗晏晝飯未呀？nei5 sik6 zo2 aan3 zau3 faan6 mei6 aa3?Have you had lunch yet?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我食咗喇，多謝。ngo5 sik6 zo2 laa3, do1 ze6.I've eaten, thank you.
