28.7 The Verbal Particle 晒 saai3 (‘all’)
The verbal particle 晒 saai3 can add the meaning of ‘all’ to a sentence. We use it to indicate that an activity has been done to all the people or things involved.
今日賣瀨尿蝦。
gam1 jat6 maai6 laai6 niu6 haa1.
We sell mantis shrimp today.
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今日賣晒瀨尿蝦。
gam1 jat6 maai6 saai3 laai6 niu6 haa1.
We have sold all the mantis shrimp today.
To indicate something is all gone, we can use the verb 冇 mou5 (‘to not have’) with 晒 saai3 to say 冇晒 mou5 saai3 (‘all gone’).
今日冇瀨尿蝦。
gam1 jat6 mou5 laai6 niu6 haa1.
There are no mantis shrimp today.
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今日冇晒瀨尿蝦。
gam1 jat6 mou5 saai3 laai6 niu6 haa1.
The mantis shrimp are all gone today.
Since 晒 saai3 indicates an activity has been done, we often use the sentence particle 喇 laa3 at the same time (See Grammar and vocabulary 13.6).
今日賣晒瀨尿蝦喇。
gam1 jat6 maai6 saai3 laai6 niu6 haa1 laa3.
We have already sold all the mantis shrimp today.
今日冇晒瀨尿蝦喇。
gam1 jat6 mou5 saai3 laai6 niu6 haa1 laa3.
The mantis shrimp are already all gone today.
When using 晒 saai3, we sometimes move the object of the sentence to the beginning of the sentence, making it the topic of the sentence.
瀨尿蝦今日賣晒喇。
laai6 niu6 haa1 gam1 jat6 maai6 saai3 laa3.
We have already sold all the mantis shrimp today.
瀨尿蝦今日冇晒喇。
laai6 niu6 haa1 gam1 jat6 mou5 saai3 laa3.
The mantis shrimp are already all gone today.