一係 jat1 hai6 vs 一路 jat1 lou6

This is topic, we are going to discuss the differences between “either” 一係 jat1 hai6 vs “while” 一路 jat1 lou6. They look similar but they have very different meanings.

一係 jat1 hai6

It can be interpreted as “either” but they are not entirely the same. 一係 jat1 hai6 has a persuasive implication to tell someone to stick with either one option.

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"You should either speak Cantonese, or speak English."
nei5 jat1 hai6 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2 jat1 hai6 zau6 gong2 jing1 man4
你 一係 講 廣東話  一係就 講 英文

[box type=”alert” size=”large” border=”full”]The real meaning is “Don’t mix your conversation with English and Cantonese, speak either one of them.”[/box] [hr_invisible]

一路 jat1 lou6

For 一路 jat1 lou6, it is similar to “as” or “while.”

"While you are eating, you are speaking study"
nei5 jat1 lou6 sik6 faan6  jat1 lou6 wan1 syu1
你一路 食飯 一路 溫書

"Don't play with your phone while you are driving"
唔好 一路 揸車  一路 玩電話
m4 hou2 jat1 lou6 zaa1 ce1 jat1 lou6 waan2 din6 waa2