How to Say "Tonight" in Cantonese

今晚

gam¹ maan⁵

The Cantonese word for "tonight" is 今晚 (gam¹ maan⁵).

今晚 is an adverb used to refer to the period of time during today's evening.

Meaning: during today's evening (adv)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of 今, meaning "this" or "current" and 晚, meaning "night" or "evening".

今晚 is more specific than 今日夜晚, which is a more formal or descriptive way to say the same thing.

In Cantonese, time adverbs such as 今晚 can be placed either before or after the subject of the sentence.

gam¹ maan⁵

In some colloquial contexts, people might use 今晚 to refer to a date or a romantic encounter, acting as a shorthand for the activities planned for the evening.
In Cantonese, the word 晚 ('evening') is often used to refer to the 'late' part of an event or the 'last' of a series, which is a conceptual extension of the night being the end of the day.
While 今晚 refers to tonight, adding the particle 咗 ('already') can change the nuance to imply that the evening is already passing or nearly over.

今晚食乜餸？
What's for dinner tonight?
This example shows how to use 今晚 when asking about dinner.
Tatoeba #5949207 by nickyeow, translation #4704216 by CK
今晚打俾我啦。
Give me a call tonight.
This example shows how to use 今晚 when asking someone to call you.
Tatoeba #1385410 by nickyeow, translation #1387027 by CK
我今晚想早啲瞓。
I want to go to bed early tonight.
This example shows how to use 今晚 when discussing sleeping habits.
Tatoeba #5949277 by nickyeow, translation #2016646 by CK
21 more sentences on Tatoeba

A couple discusses their plans for the evening at home.

子健 Tsz Kin

今晚你有事嗎？
gam1 maan5 nei5 jau5 si6 maa1?
Are you busy tonight?
美玲 Mei Ling

我今晚冇事。
ngo5 gam1 maan5 mou5 si6.
I am free tonight.
子健 Tsz Kin

咁我哋今晚去睇戲？
gam2 ngo5 dei6 gam1 maan5 heoi3 tai2 hei3?
Then shall we go see a movie tonight?
美玲 Mei Ling

好呀，我好想去。
hou2 aa3, ngo5 hou2 soeng2 heoi3.
Okay, I really want to go.

Sources

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