In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:

• Indefinite Noun Phrases III
• Classifiers for Food and Drinks I (Food Containers)
• The Adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 (‘seem’) and the Pronoun 噉 / 咁 gam2 (‘seem’)
• Forming Comparative Adjectives with the Suffix 啲 di1 (‘more’)
• The Sentence Particle 喎 wo3 (Realization)
• The Sentence Particle 咋 zaa3 II
• The Sentence Particle 啦 laa1 III (Suggestion)
• The Verb 唔好 m4 hou2 (‘don’t’)
• Vocabulary List
• Vocabulary: Types of Food
• Vocabulary: Cooking Methods
• Vocabulary: Meat
• Vocabulary: Seafood
• Vocabulary: Vegetables
• Vocabulary: Commenting on Food I

In Grammar and Vocabulary 6.2, we learned that we can use indefinite noun phrases to refer to a type of person or thing in general. In Grammar and Vocabulary 21.1, we learned that we use indefinite noun phrases to introduce new people or things that we mention for the first time in a conversation.

We also use indefinite noun phrases when referring to non-specific people or things (i.e. when we don’t have specific people or things in mind). To form an indefinite noun phrase, we add the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and a classifier before a noun. This is similar to noun phrases with the indefinite article a or an in English (e.g., a chicken).

We can omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).

In Grammar and Vocabulary 2.1, we learned that 啲 di1 is the classifier for plural or uncountable nouns. We can add the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and the classifier 啲 di1 before a noun to mean ‘some …’.

When the classifier is 啲 di1, we usually omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).

We don’t omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears before a verb (as a subject). Otherwise, the noun phrase will become definite. We will learn more about this in later lessons. Compare:

We can use container classifiers with nouns for food. Container classifiers are a group of measure classifiers. They indicate the quantity of the food based on its container (e.g., bowl, plate).

When referring to a dish, we can generally put the classifier 個 go3 before the dish name.

We can also use 個 go3 with a specific type of dish.

When indicating the number of dishes, we often use the noun 嘢 je5 (‘thing’) to mean ‘dish’. We use the classifier 樣 joeng6 with 嘢 je5.

For poultry served whole, we can use the classifier 隻 zek3 (for animals). We use 一 jat1 (‘one’) or 成 seng4 / sing4 (‘whole’) for a whole one, and 半 bun3 (‘half’) for half of it.

For fish served whole, we can use the classifier 條 tiu4 (for things with a long shape).

For pizza, we use the classifier 個 go3 for a whole pizza and the classifier 塊 faai3 (‘piece’, for things with a flat shape) for a slice.

For cake, we use the classifier 個 go3 for a whole cake and the classifier 嚿 gau6 (‘piece’) or 件 gin6 (‘piece’, less colloquial) for a slice.

For skewers, we use the classifier 串 cyun3 (for small things held together by a thin stick). For a large number, we can use the classifier 打 daa1 (‘dozen’). 一打 jat1 daa1 (‘one dozen’) equals to 12 and 半打 bun3 daa1 (‘half a dozen’) equals to 6.

For food with a clearly specified quantity (e.g., a set of five fried chicken pieces), we can use the classifier 份 fan6 (‘set’).

We can use the adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 to indicate our impression of something. 好似 hou2 ci5 adds the meaning of ‘… seem …’ to a sentence. In this lesson, we will use 好似 hou2 ci5 with a predicative adjective. We add 好似 hou2 ci5 before the adverb that comes before the predicative adjective.

The pronoun 噉 gam2 (also written as 咁) can also add the meaning of ‘… seem …’ to a sentence. We put 噉 gam2 after the predicative adjective. In grammar, 噉 gam2 is a pronoun but we won’t examine this here. You can simply remember its meaning for now.

We often use 好似 hou2 ci5 and 噉 gam2 together.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 22.3, we learned that we can put the suffix 啲 di1 (‘more’) after an adverb to form a comparative adverb.

We can also put the suffix 啲 di1 (‘more’) after an adjective to form a comparative adjective.

When we use a comparative adjective as a predicative adjective, we don’t need to add the default adverb 好 hou2 or a degree word before the adjective.

We can use the adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 (‘seem’) and the pronoun 噉 gam2 (‘seem’) with 啲 di1. We put 好似 hou2 ci5 before the adjective and 噉 gam2 after 啲 di1.

We can use the sentence particle 喎 wo3 to indicate realization or help the listener realize something. We use 喎 wo3 when we say something that we or the listener wasn’t aware of previously. 喎 wo3 also signals that what we are saying is noteworthy and the listener should pay attention to it.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 9.2, we learned that we can use the sentence particle 咋 zaa3 to add the meaning of ‘only’ to a sentence.

We can also use the sentence particle 咋 zaa3 to emphasize the degree of something is not as high as what we or the listener originally thought (e.g., how attractive something is). Note that we only use 咋 zaa3 with some adverbs or adjectives.

For example, we can often use 咋 zaa3 with 唔係好 m4 hai6 hou2 (‘not very’) or 唔係幾 m4 hai6 gei2 (‘not quite’). Notice below when 咋 zaa3 and 喎 wo3 are used at the same time, we put 咋 zaa3 before 喎 wo3.

We can also use 咋 with 麻麻哋 maa4 maa2 dei2 (‘so-so’).

In Grammar and Vocabulary 17.10, we learned that we can use the sentence particle 啦 laa1 to indicate a decision.

We can also use the sentence particle 啦 laa1 to form suggestions. In this use, 啦 laa1 is similar to the sentence particle 吖 aa1, which is also used to form suggestions. However, 啦 laa1 usually forms a stronger suggestion. 啦 laa1 is usually used when we are confident that the listener is unlikely to reject our suggestion based on the context.

We can also use the adverb 不如 bat1 jyu2 (‘why not’) with 啦 laa1.

The verb 唔好 m4 hou2 means ‘don’t’ (as in don’t touch). We use 唔好 m4 hou2 to ask someone not to do an action or activity. We put 唔好 m4 hou2 before the action or activity. We often use 唔好 m4 hou2 when we suggest not doing something.

The word 肉 juk6 means ‘meat’. We can add 肉 juk6 after a type of animal to specifically refer to their meat, but we can also simply say the type of animal without 肉 juk6 to refer to their meat.

The word 扒 paa2 means ‘a cut of meat’. We can add 扒 paa2 after a type of meat to refer to a cut of that type of meat.

雞 gai1 also means ‘female prostitute’ and 鴨 aap3 also means ‘male prostitute’.

We will focus on seafood other than fish here. We will learn about common types of fish in later lessons.

The word 魚 jyu2 means ‘fish’. It appears in several words below. Pay attention to its tone because it is sometimes pronounced with Tone 2 and sometimes with Tone 4.

To make positive comments, we can use positive adjectives. We can add degree words to indicate the level of intensity.

To make negative comments, we can use negative adjectives. We can add degree words to indicate the level of intensity. Note that we usually use 麻麻哋 maa4 maa2 dei2 (‘so-so’, also written as 麻麻地) without degree words.

We can also add 唔 m4 (‘not’), 唔係好 m4 hai6 hou2 (‘not very’) or 唔係幾 m4 hai6 gei2 (‘not quite’) before positive adjectives to form negative comments.

In the Communication section, you will learn:

• Deciding on the Food for a Meal