下年
haa6 nin4
The Cantonese phrase for "next year" is 下年 (haa6 nin4).
下年 is used to refer to the year following the current one. If you want to emphasize the very beginning of that following year, you can use the phrase 明年頭.
Meaning: the year after the present year (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 下年 is composed of 下 (haa6), meaning 'next' or 'below' and 年 (nin4), meaning 'year'.
Which one should you use?
While 下年 is a common way to say next year in spoken Cantonese, 明年 is a more formal term often used in written Chinese or formal announcements. In terms of structure, 下年 and 下一年 are both informal versions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, 下年 is more prevalent in everyday conversations than 下一年. The form 下一年 is used more formally or in writing in Hong Kong.
How do you pronounce it?
haa6 nin4
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, the word 下 (below) is used for the future, while 上 (above) is used for the past. To say 'last year', you simply flip the phrase to 上年.
- When talking about the Lunar New Year, people may refer to the 'next year' using the animal of the zodiac, such as 'the year of the Dragon', rather than using 下年.
- The word 下 (haa6) used in 下年 literally translates to 'below' or 'under' in English. It reflects a way of conceptualizing time where 'next' is viewed as being positioned below the current point.
Examples in context
- 我下年就十七歲喇。I'll be seventeen next year.This sentence is useful for stating your age in the following year using 下年.Tatoeba #579910 by nickyeow, translation #325124 by CK
- 我諗住下年去法國。I plan to go to France next year.This sentence is useful for expressing a plan for the following year using 下年.Tatoeba #1132208 by nickyeow, translation #663914 by bluepie88
- 我明年會去I will go next year
- 我下年想去日本旅行。ngo5 haa6 nin4 soeng2 heoi3 jat6 bun2 leoi5 hang4.I want to travel to Japan next year.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their future goals.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung你下年打算做咩？nei5 haa6 nin4 daa2 syun3 zou6 me1?What do you plan to do next year?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我想下年去日本讀書。ngo5 soeng2 haa6 nin4 heoi3 jat6 bun2 duk6 syu1.I want to study in Japan next year.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung真係好正！zan1 hai6 hou2 zeng3!That's really great!
- 俊傑 Chun Kit希望下年可以成功。hei1 mong6 haa6 nin4 ho2 yi5 sing4 gung1.I hope it works out next year.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
