All Questions
36
questions
3
votes
1
answer
224
views
When does one use 同埋 and 然後 in Cantonese?
A long time ago, I asked a Hong Kong colleague how to order food by saying "and" or "and then". She taught me the structure is basically something like "我要薯條同埋一個漢堡包." But ...
user31212
3
votes
2
answers
238
views
Difference between 有冇 and 咗 for past tense in Cantonese
I have finished my audio course on Cantonese and was confused about one grammar point. Sometimes people in the conversations, referring to the past tense, would say something like this for "Did ...
user31212
1
vote
1
answer
132
views
What do the ending sounds in Cantonese sentences mean or convey?
I think it's pretty well known that Cantonese has a lot of a's and la's attached to the end of sentences. However as a non-native, I have trouble understanding when these are used. For example, when ...
user31212
3
votes
1
answer
512
views
Cantonese Question: When does one use 咩 versus 乜野?
I've been listening to some Cantonese audio from Pimsleur and noticed they use a different word for "what" compared to what I learned from CantoneseClass101. In CC101, they used 咩, such as &...
user31212
4
votes
3
answers
492
views
Function of 行 in this statement (cantonese)
I am reading a Cantonese statement: 我日日都開行冷氣。 What is the function of 行? For me, it would have been perfectly fine as 我日日都開冷氣。 As in, I turn on the a/c everyday.
Please give insights. Thanks
- 1,052
4
votes
4
answers
681
views
What is the function of 埋? (Cantonese)
In this sentence: 做乜唔叫埋我? What is the function of 埋?
I understood this sentence to be: "why didn't you call me?" (perhaps to an outing or a party). What is the difference with the sentence &...
- 1,052
4
votes
2
answers
170
views
What is the function of 得 in 我聽日仲有得面試添 in Cantonese?
I would like to ask about the function of 得 in this sentence:
我聽日仲有得面試添。
I understood the sentence as: "Tomorrow I still have an interview (additionally, on top of something else that might not ...
- 1,052
2
votes
1
answer
99
views
Usage and grammar points involving 嚟講
I would like to request for some insights on the usage of the phrase “… 嚟講”.
I have heard this being used in so many ways, one being “對我嚟講” as speaking for myself.
What could be other possible uses ...
- 1,052
2
votes
6
answers
226
views
confused about the character 就
Here is a sentence: 有時我唔開心會喊。之後我就心情好啲。
I don't understand the function of the word 就. In my mind, it is supposed to be 嘅, for possessive, considering the context and that 心情 (feelings) would be a noun....
- 1,052
5
votes
1
answer
647
views
Are there loanwords from Portuguese used in Macau Cantonese?
I'd like to know if there are some words from Macau Cantonese that are from Portuguese. As HK Cantonese has some words from English, I think Macau also can have some words. Thank you for any examples ...
- 105
2
votes
1
answer
159
views
Is “就快下雨了” correct Mandarin?
I've been watching Peppa Pig to improve my Mandarin, but here at 1:59, the mama pig says “就快下雨了” meaning to say that it will rain soon. However I thought that the phrase "就快" was Cantonese ...
- 125
2
votes
1
answer
452
views
Difference between 不了 and 不到
This question focuses on the differences between 了and 到.
What's the difference between verb + 不了 and verb + 不到?
Do the differences also apply to Cantonese?
Examples:
收不到 vs 收不了
幫不到 vs 幫不了
來不到 vs ...
- 2,131
0
votes
3
answers
640
views
Not only, but also (in cantonese)
佢唔單只感冒，仲發燒添。
Not only does he have a cold, but he also has a fever.
What is the function of 添？ I feel rather awkward saying it. I searched the dictionary and doesn’t look like it has added any ...
- 1,052
3
votes
2
answers
131
views
How to say "Hopefully we can treat each other with more X"
Is there a general template for translating, "hopefully we can treat each with more X" where X is some noun.
Examples:
Hopefully we can treat each other with more consideration.
Hopefully we can ...
- 2,131
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
Mandarin equivalent for 返嚟?
In Cantonese 返嚟 is often used when asking someone about where they obtained something from. For instance, "學返嚟“ could be used in a sentence asking someone, "Where did you learn this from?"
What's the ...
- 2,131