遲啲見
ci4 di1 gin3
遲啲見 (ci4 di1 gin3) is the Cantonese way to say see you later.
遲啲見 is used when you expect to see the person again later on the same day or in the near future.
Meaning: goodbye (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 遲 (late), 啲 (a bit/some) and 見 (to see/meet).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 啲 (di1) acts as a diminutive particle meaning 'a little' or 'a bit', modifying the adjective 遲 (late) to mean 'later'.
How do you pronounce it?
ci4 di1 gin3
Did you know?
- If you are the one staying while others leave, you might say 慢走 (maan6 zau2), which tells the other person to 'walk slowly' as a polite way of saying goodbye.
- While 遲啲見 is common, many Cantonese speakers simply say 拜拜 (baai1 baai1), which is the phonetic transcription of the English 'bye-bye'.
- The particle 啲 (di1) used in this phrase is a hallmark of Cantonese grammar that does not exist in the same way in Mandarin, making the phrase distinctively regional.
Examples in context
- 好，下次見。Okay, see you next time.
- 拜拜啦，下次食飯再傾。Bye bye, let's catch up for a meal next time.
- 遲啲見。ci4 di1 gin3.See you later.
- 我而家走喇，遲啲見！ngo5 ji4 gaa1 zau2 la3, ci4 di1 gin3!I'm leaving now, see you later!
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Mei Ling are finishing their lunch together.
- 家明 Ka Ming我返去公司先，遲啲見。ngo5 faan1 heoi3 gung1 si1 sin1, ci4 di1 gin3.I'll go back to the office first, see you later.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，遲啲見！hou2, ci4 di1 gin3!Okay, see you later!
- 家明 Ka Ming下午三點喺會議室見。haa6 ng5 saam1 dim2 hai2 wui6 ji3 sat1 gin3.See you in the meeting room at 3 p.m.
- 美玲 Mei Ling冇問題，到時見。mou5 man6 tai4, dou3 si4 gin3.No problem, see you then.
