<p>"<a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1280/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">头先</a>" means <em>just now; a moment ago</em> in Cantonese. It is the counterpart of 剛才，剛剛 in Mandarin.</p>

<p>You can use 头先 if few hours is considered a short time in the situation. </p>

<p>If few hours is considered a long time in the situation, it is better to simply say: "几个钟头之前" (few hours ago)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"你头先说的是对的” </p>
</blockquote>

<p>It is "頭先你講得啱" or "頭先你講得冇錯" in Cantonese </p>

<p>The sentence in this context implies a very short time has passed--   within the length of a short conversation. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-07T09:27:25.553Z
2017-10-07T10:11:58.407Z
2017-10-07T10:11:58.407Z
Tang Ho
<p>There are several expressions which could fit the context. However, since I'm not a linguist, I'm not sure how to precisely describe the grammar here.  </p>

<p>Examples:  </p>

<p>I have played this game earlier.<br>
我最近/刚刚玩过这款游戏。(Choose "刚刚" if it happened just minutes or an hour ago, choose "最近" if it was days ago)</p>

<p>Your earlier words are correct.<br>
你先前/早先/刚才的话是对的。(If it was just moments ago, both are correct. Otherwise, choose "先前/早先" instead of "刚才")</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-17T03:00:19.653Z
2017-10-17T03:00:19.653Z
Winfred Huang
<p>Like "I played this game earlier."
I'm indicating a time about a few hours ago. 过去和以前seem like too long ago. I guess I could say 几个小时前but in Cantonese there's 头先 which is shorter and I want to convey the same meaning. Like when I'm talking to someone and referring to an experience we shared a short while ago like "你头先说的是对的”。</p>

<translation><cantonese>
How do I say "earlier"? (头先 in Cantonese)
# How do I say "earlier"? (头先 in Cantonese)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-07)

Like "I played this game earlier."
I'm indicating a time about a few hours ago. 过去和以前seem like too long ago. I guess I could say 几个小时前but in Cantonese there's 头先 which is shorter and I want to convey the same meaning. Like when I'm talking to someone and referring to an experience we shared a short while ago like "你头先说的是对的”。

**Tags:** translation, cantonese


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-07. Score: 1

"[头先](http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/1280/)" means *just now; a moment ago* in Cantonese. It is the counterpart of 剛才，剛剛 in Mandarin.

You can use 头先 if few hours is considered a short time in the situation.

If few hours is considered a long time in the situation, it is better to simply say: "几个钟头之前" (few hours ago)

> "你头先说的是对的”

It is "頭先你講得啱" or "頭先你講得冇錯" in Cantonese

The sentence in this context implies a very short time has passed-- within the length of a short conversation.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-17. Score: 0

There are several expressions which could fit the context. However, since I'm not a linguist, I'm not sure how to precisely describe the grammar here.

Examples:

I have played this game earlier.  
我最近/刚刚玩过这款游戏。(Choose "刚刚" if it happened just minutes or an hour ago, choose "最近" if it was days ago)

Your earlier words are correct.  
你先前/早先/刚才的话是对的。(If it was just moments ago, both are correct. Otherwise, choose "先前/早先" instead of "刚才")


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