28.5 The Adverb 先 sin1 (‘first; for now’) and the Aspect Particle 住 zyu6 (‘for now’)
The adverb 先 sin1 means ‘first’. We use it to indicate we will do an activity first. Note that unlike other adverbs, we put 先 sin1 after the verb for the activity. If there is an aspect particle or an object after the verb, we put 先 sin1 after them. For separable verbs, we put 先 sin1 after the whole verb. As a rule of thumb, we usually put 先 sin1 at the end of the sentence or before the sentence particle, if any.
我哋睇一睇先。
ngo5 dei6 tai2 jat1 tai2 sin1.
I will have a look first.
先 sin1 is put after the verb 睇一睇 tai2 jat1 tai2 (‘have a look’).
我幫你哋收一收啲餐牌先呀吓。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 caan1 paai2 sin1 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the menus for you first.
先 sin1 is put after the object 啲餐牌 di1 caan1 paai2 (‘the menus’).
The adverb 先 sin1 can also mean ‘for now’.
我哋要一支啤酒先吖唔該。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 jat1 zi1 be1 zau2 sin1 aa1 m4 goi1.
We want one bottle of beer for now, please.
先 sin1 is put after the object 一支啤酒 jat1 zi1 be1 zau2 (‘one bottle of beer’).
When we use 先 sin1 to mean ‘for now’, we often use the aspect particle 住 zyu6 at the same time. 住 zyu6 also means ‘for now’. We use it to indicate we will do an activity for now.
我哋要住一支啤酒先吖唔該。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 zyu6 jat1 zi1 be1 zau2 sin1 aa1 m4 goi1.
We want one bottle of beer for now, please.
The aspect particle 住 zyu6 is put after the verb 要 jiu3.