How to Say "Right Now" in Cantonese

而家

ji4 gaa1

In Cantonese, 'right now' is expressed as 而家 (ji4 gaa1).

而家 is used as an adverb to mean 'at this precise moment'.

Meaning: at this precise moment (adv)

Which one should you use?

While 而家 means 'now', it is often used interchangeably with 而今 in certain contexts, though 而家 is much more common in spoken Cantonese.

而家 is commonly heard in Guangdong province, while 依家 is widely used in Hong Kong Cantonese.

In Cantonese, 而家 can be placed either at the very beginning of a sentence or immediately before the verb to indicate the time of the action.

ji4 gaa1

The character 家 in 而家 usually means 'home' or 'family', but in this phrase it has evolved to signify a unit of time.
The character 而 in 而家 is a classical Chinese conjunction, but in spoken Cantonese it has lost its original grammatical function to become part of a time adverb.
While 而家 means 'now', adding the word 就 (zau6) immediately after it emphasizes that an action will happen 'right away' without any further delay.

佢哋而家去緊邊？
Where are they going to right now?
This sentence uses 而家 to ask about a current destination.
Tatoeba #1081503 by nickyeow, translation #408261 by FeuDRenais
唔好意思，我而家好忙呀。
I'm sorry, I'm busy right now.
This sentence uses 而家 to explain a current state of being busy.
Tatoeba #616144 by nickyeow, translation #51478 by CK
我而家唔想同阿Tom講嘢。
I don't want to talk to Tom right now.
This sentence uses 而家 to express a current lack of desire to talk.
Tatoeba #5360909 by nickyeow, translation #5332952 by CK
請問圖書館現時開門嗎？ ( cing2 man6 tou4 syu1 gun2 jin6 si4 hoi1 mun4 maa3? )
Excuse me, is the library open right now?
你依家做緊咩嘢？ ( nei5 ji1 gaa1 zou6 gan2 me1 je5? )
What are you doing right now?
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Jun Kit calls Mei Ling to ask about dinner.

俊傑 Chun Kit

美玲，你而家喺屋企嗎？
mei5 ling4, nei5 ji4 gaa1 hai2 uk1 kei2 maa1?
Mei Ling, are you at home right now?
美玲 Mei Ling

係呀，我而家喺屋企。
hai6 aa3, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 hai2 uk1 kei2.
Yes, I am at home right now.
俊傑 Chun Kit

咁我而家可以去搵你嗎？
gam2 ngo5 ji4 gaa1 ho2 ji5 heoi3 wan2 nei5 maa1?
Then can I come to see you right now?
美玲 Mei Ling

好呀，等緊你。
hou2 aa3, dang2 gan2 nei5.
Sure, I'm waiting for you.

Sources

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