Lesson 7.1: Grammar Focus

Tap any speaker to hear the pronunciation. Study all seven points then head to Drills to practise.

定

ding6

Or (in choice questions)

Structure: A 定 B — used only in questions offering two choices

Examples

你鍾意食牛肉定豬肉呀？

nei5 zung1 ji3 sik6 ngau4 juk6 ding6 zyu1 juk6 aa3?

Do you like eating beef or pork?

你鍾意飲紅酒定白酒呀？

nei5 zung1 ji3 jam2 hung4 zau2 ding6 baak6 zau2 aa3?

Do you like drinking red wine or white wine?

你想食麵定飯呀？

nei5 soeng2 sik6 min6 ding6 faan6 aa3?

Do you want to eat noodles or rice?

Note: 定 (ding6) is only used in questions — never in statements. A 定 (ding6) B = A or B?

有冇

jau5 mou5

Have or not / Is there…?

Structure: 有冇 (jau5 mou5) + object — asks "do you have…?" or "is there…?"

Examples

請問你哋有冇啤酒呀？

cing2 man6 nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 bei1 zau2 aa3?

Excuse me, do you have beer?

你有冇兄弟姊妹呀？

nei5 jau5 mou5 hing1 dai6 zi2 mui6 aa3?

Do you have any siblings?

你哋有冇揚州炒飯呀？

nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 joeng4 zau1 caau2 faan6 aa3?

Do you have Yangzhou fried rice?

Compare: 有冇 (jau5 mou5) = have or not? (question) vs 有 (jau5) = have (statement) vs 冇 (mou5) = don't have (statement).

請問

cing2 man6

Excuse me / May I ask…

Structure: 請問 (cing2 man6) + question — polite opener before asking something

Examples

請問你哋有冇紅酒呀？

cing2 man6 nei5 dei6 jau5 mou5 hung4 zau2 aa3?

Excuse me, do you have red wine?

請問廁所喺邊度呀？

cing2 man6 ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3?

Excuse me, where is the toilet?

請問幾多錢呀？

cing2 man6 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3?

Excuse me, how much is it?

Usage: 請問 (cing2 man6) is a polite way to begin a question — like "Excuse me" or "May I ask". It softens any question that follows.

晒

saai3

Completeness / Very much (emphasis)

Structure: 唔該 (m4 goi1) / 多謝 (do1 ze6) + 晒 (saai3) — adds emphasis of "very much" or "all"

Examples

唔該晒！

m4 goi1 saai3!

Thank you very much!

多謝晒！

do1 ze6 saai3!

Thanks a lot!

食晒啦！

sik6 saai3 laa1!

Eat it all up!

Note: 晒 (saai3) after verbs means "all / completely": 食晒 (sik6 saai3) = ate it all. After 唔該 (m4 goi1) / 多謝 (do1 ze6) it means "very much".

杯

bui1

Cup / Glass (measure word for drinks)

Structure: Number + 杯 (bui1) + drink

Examples

唔該，我要一杯紅酒。

m4 goi1, ngo5 jiu3 jat1 bui1 hung4 zau2

Excuse me, I want a glass of red wine.

我想要兩杯咖啡。

ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 loeng5 bui1 gaa3 fe1

I'd like two cups of coffee.

我哋要三杯啤酒。

ngo5 dei6 jiu3 saam1 bui1 bei1 zau2

We want three glasses of beer.

Measure words: 杯 (bui1) = cup/glass for drinks. 碟 (dip6) = plate for food. 碗 (wun2) = bowl. Always: number + measure word + item.

碟

dip6

Plate / Dish (measure word for food)

Structure: Number + 碟 (dip6) + food dish

Examples

我想要一碟炒麵。

ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 dip6 caau2 min6

I'd like one plate of fried noodles.

唔該，我哋要三碟炒飯。

m4 goi1, ngo5 dei6 jiu3 saam1 dip6 caau2 faan6

Excuse me, we want three plates of fried rice.

我哋要兩碟揚州炒飯。

ngo5 dei6 jiu3 loeng5 dip6 joeng4 zau1 caau2 faan6

We want two plates of Yangzhou fried rice.

Usage: 碟 (dip6) = plate, used for plated dishes like 炒飯 (caau2 faan6) fried rice or 炒麵 (caau2 min6) fried noodles. Compare: 碗 (wun2) = bowl, for soups and noodle soups.

碗

wun2

Bowl (measure word for soups and noodles)

Structure: Number + 碗 (wun2) + food (noodles, soup, rice, etc.)

Examples

我要一碗牛腩麵。

ngo5 jiu3 jat1 wun2 ngau4 naam5 min6

I want one bowl of beef brisket noodle.

佢要一碗雲吞麵。

keoi5 jiu3 jat1 wun2 wan4 tan1 min6

He/she wants a bowl of wonton noodles.

我哋要兩碗例湯。

ngo5 dei6 jiu3 loeng5 wun2 lai6 tong1

We want two bowls of soup of the day.

Compare all three: 杯 (bui1) = cup/glass for drinks · 碟 (dip6) = plate for plated dishes · 碗 (wun2) = bowl for noodles and soups. Always: number + measure word + item.

Each drill has 7 questions — one per grammar point — so you practise distinguishing all seven in context.

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CantonesePath A1 Grammar Focus — Lesson 7