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C餐係邊個㗎？
C caan1 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
C caan1 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Grammar and Vocabulary
In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:
- Possessive Pronouns
- Definite Noun Phrases
- Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases I
- The Modal Verb 要 jiu3 (‘to need to’) II
- The Preposition 同 tung4 II (‘for’)
- Emphasizing Something with 係 hai6 (‘to be’)
- Vocabulary List
31.1 Possessive Pronouns
In Grammar and Vocabulary 2.4, we learned to use the possessive marker 嘅 ge3, which is similar to the apostrophe s (’s) in English, to form possessive constructions.
In English, words like mine, yours and theirs are possessive pronouns. To form possessive pronouns in Cantonese, we add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after the corresponding personal pronouns.
We can also add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after a personal name to mean ‘Sarah’s, etc.’.
Sarah嘅
Sarah ge3
Sarah’s
In Cantonese, possessive pronouns usually appear in the following two sentence structures:
The first sentence structure is a sentence with the verb 係 hai6 (‘to be’). The possessive pronoun will be the subject complement.
The second sentence structure is a sentence that has a predicate without verbs (See Grammar and Vocabulary 12.4). The possessive pronoun will be the predicate on its own.
We sometimes add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 after 嘅 ge3. When we do so, we usually contract 嘅 ge3 and 呀 aa3 to 㗎 gaa3 (嘅 ge3 + 呀 aa3 = 㗎 gaa3).
凍檸茶係我㗎。
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 ngo5 gaa3.
Iced lemon tea is mine.
The question words 邊個 bin1 go3 and 邊位 bin1 wai2 mean ‘who’. 邊位 bin1 wai2 is more formal and is used to show respect or being polite to the people we refer to. To ask ‘whose’, we add the possessive marker 嘅 ge3 after 邊個 bin1 go3 or 邊位 bin1 wai2 and say 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 or 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3. We can use 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 and 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3 in the two sentence structures above. We put them at the position of the possessive pronoun.
We can optionally add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 to the questions. We usually contract 嘅 ge3 and 呀 aa3 to 㗎 gaa3 (嘅 ge3 + 呀 aa3 = 㗎 gaa3).
凍檸茶係邊個㗎？
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
凍檸茶邊個㗎？
dung3 ning2 caa4 bin1 go3 gaa3?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
We can also optionally apply rising intonation to the questions. When rising intonation is applied, 嘅 ge3 becomes 嘅 ge2 (嘅 ge3 + Rising intonation = 嘅 ge2).
凍檸茶係邊個嘅？
dung3 ning2 caa4 hai6 bin1 go3 ge2?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
凍檸茶邊個嘅？
dung3 ning2 caa4 bin1 go3 ge2?
Iced lemon tea is whose?
[= Who is iced lemon tea for?]
Note that we can either add the sentence particle 呀 aa3 or apply rising intonation to a question, but we don’t do both at the same time.
31.2 Definite Noun Phrases
We use definite noun phrases to refer to specific people or things (i.e. when we have specific people or things in mind). For example, it can be a specific plate on our table. To form a definite noun phrase, we add a classifier before a noun. This is similar to noun phrases with the definite article the in English (e.g., the plate).
We can put a definite noun phrase after the verb (as an object or a subject complement) or before the verb (as a subject or a topic) in a sentence.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
隻碟 zek3 dip2 (‘the plate’) refers to the specific plate which the speaker wants to collect. It is the object of the sentence.
個甜品仲未嚟呀 。
go3 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The dessert still hasn’t come yet.
個甜品 go3 tim4 ban2 (‘the dessert’) refers to the specific dessert which the speaker has ordered. It is the subject of the sentence.
For plural or uncountable nouns, we can use the classifier 啲 di1.
我收一收啲碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 di1 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plates.
啲碟 di1 dip2 (‘the plates’) refers to the specific plates which the speaker wants to collect.
啲甜品仲未嚟呀 。
di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The desserts still haven’t come yet.
啲甜品 di1 tim4 ban2 (‘the desserts’) refers to the specific desserts which the speaker has ordered.
31.3 Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases I
Let’s review definite and indefinite noun phrases together.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 31.2, we learned to form a definite noun phrase by adding a classifier before a noun.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
啲甜品仲未嚟呀 。
di1 tim4 ban2 zung6 mei6 lai4 aa3.
The desserts still haven’t come yet.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 27.1, we learned to form an indefinite noun phrase by adding the number 一 jat1 (‘one’) and a classifier before a noun.
不如叫一隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 jat1 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫一啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 jat1 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We learned that we can omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement).
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
我想叫啲甜品呀。
ngo5 soeng2 giu3 di1 tim4 ban2 aa3.
I want to order some desserts.
We also learned that we don’t omit the number 一 jat1 if the indefinite noun phrase appears before a verb (as a subject or a topic). Otherwise, the noun phrase will become definite.
一個套餐有兩個餸。
jat1 go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
A set meal has two dishes.
個套餐有兩個餸。
go3 tou3 caan1 jau5 loeng5 go3 sung3.
The set meal has two dishes.
As you may have noticed, when a noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement) and only has the classifier and the noun, it can be a definite noun phrase or an indefinite noun phrase. We can usually decide whether it is definite or indefinite based on the meaning of the sentence.
不如叫隻雞吖。
bat1 jyu4 giu3 zek3 gai1 aa1.
Why don’t we order a chicken?
The noun phrase 隻雞 zek3 gai1 appears after the verb 叫 giu3. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 雞 gai1. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be an indefinite noun phrase that doesn’t refer to a specific chicken.
我收一收隻碟呀吓。
ngo5 sau1 jat1 sau1 zek3 dip2 aa3 haa2.
I will collect the plate.
The noun phrase 隻碟 zek3 dip2 appears after the verb 收 sau1. It has only the classifier 隻 zek3 and the noun 碟 dip2. Based on the meaning of the sentence, it should be a definite noun phrase that refers to a specific plate on the table.
We will see some tricker examples in the next lesson.
The table below summarizes what we have learned:
Note that this also applies to sentences without verbs (e.g., sentences with predicative adjectives). We will see some examples in later lessons.
31.4 The Modal Verb 要 jiu3 (‘to need to’) II
In Grammar and Vocabulary 23.4, we learned that the modal verb 要 jiu3 means ‘to need to’. We use it to indicate we need to do an activity. We put a verb after 要 jiu3.
我哋要加水。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2.
We need to add water.
[= We need to refill the cups.]
Unlike other verbs, if we want to mean ‘to not need to’, we don’t simply add the adverb 唔 m4 (‘not’) before 要 jiu3 and say 唔要 m4 jiu3. Instead, we use the modal verb 唔使 m4 sai2 (‘to not need to’).
我哋唔使加水。
ngo5 dei6 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2.
We don’t need to add water.
⚠️ Note that we don’t use 使 sai2 to mean ‘to need to’. We only use 使 sai2 when 唔 m4 will appear at the same time. To mean ‘to need to’, we will use 要 jiu3 instead.
❌ 我哋使加水。
ngo5 dei6 sai2 gaa1 seoi2.
✔️ 我哋要加水。
ngo5 dei6 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2.
We need to add water.
To form yes-no questions, we can use the X-not-X construction with either 要 jiu3 or 使 sai2, but we use 使 sai2 more often.
你哋要唔要加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 jiu3 m4 jiu3 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
你哋使唔使加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
We can contract 使唔使 sai2 m4 sai2 to 使咪 sai2 mai2.
你哋使咪加水嘅？
nei5 dei6 sai2 mai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2?
Do you need to add water?
To answer the question, we can give a long answer or a short answer. We give a short answer more often. Notice we use the sentence particle 喇 laa3 in the negative answers because we are indicating a rejection (See Grammar and Vocabulary 16.5).
If someone is offering us help and we want to give a positive answer, we usually say 好呀 hou2 aa3 (‘good’) and then the expression 唔該 m4 goi1 (‘thank you’).
| A: | 你哋使唔使加水嘅？ nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2? Do you need to add water? |
| B: | 好呀，唔該。 hou2 aa3, m4 goi1. Good. [= Yes.] Thank you. |
For negative answers, we can add the expression 唔該 m4 goi1 (‘thank you’) to sound more friendly.
| A: | 你哋使唔使加水嘅？ nei5 dei6 sai2 m4 sai2 gaa1 seoi2 ge2? Do you need to add water? |
| B: | 唔使喇，唔該。 m4 sai2 laa3, m4 goi1. No. Thank you. |
The table below summarizes the use of 要 jiu3 and 使 sai2:
31.5 The Preposition 同 tung4 II (‘for’)
In Grammar and Vocabulary 11.2, we learned that the preposition 同 tung4 means ‘with’.
The preposition 同 tung4 can also mean ‘for’ (as in I will refill the cups for you). When an action is done to help someone, we can use 同 tung4 to indicate who receives the help. We put a person after 同 tung4 to form a prepositional phrase.
We put the prepositional phrase before the verb we want to modify.
In Grammar and Vocabulary 24.1, we also learned to use the preposition 幫 bong1 (‘for’) to indicate who receives the help. 同 tung4 and 幫 bong1 are similar in this use, but 幫 bong1 usually conveys a clearer sense of help, as 幫 bong1 means ‘to help’ when used as a verb.
我同你哋加一加水呀吓。
ngo5 tung4 nei5 dei6 gaa1 jat1 gaa1 seoi2 aa3 haa2.
I will add water for you.
我幫你哋加一加水呀吓。
ngo5 bong1 nei5 dei6 gaa1 jat1 gaa1 seoi2 aa3 haa2.
I will add water for you.
The second sentence conveys a clearer sense of help than the first one.
31.6 Emphasizing Something with 係 hai6 (‘to be’)
We can add the verb 係 hai6 (‘to be’) before a verb phrase to emphasize something. For example, when the food is served but it is incorrect, we can use 係 hai6 to emphasize what is correct (what we actually want).
我係要B餐呀。
ngo5 hai6 jiu3 B caan1 aa3.
What I want is Set B.
係 hai6 is added before the verb phrase 要B餐 jiu3 B caan1 (‘to want Set B’) to emphasize that Set B is actually wanted.
We can also use 唔係 m4 hai6 (唔 m4 ‘not’ + 係 hai6 ‘to be’) to emphasize what is incorrect (what we don’t actually want).
我唔係要D餐呀。
ngo5 m4 hai6 jiu3 D caan1 aa3.
What I want is not Set D.
唔係 m4 hai6 is added before the verb phrase 要D餐 jiu3 D caan1 (‘to want Set D’) to emphasize that Set D is not actually wanted.
We often use 係 hai6 and 唔係 m4 hai6 together to emphasize what is correct and what is incorrect at the same time.
我係要B餐，唔係要D餐呀。
ngo5 hai6 jiu3 B caan1, m4 hai6 jiu3 D caan1 aa3.
What I want is Set B. What I want is not Set D.
31.7 Vocabulary List
Communication
In the Communication section, you will learn:
- Being Served the Food
- Getting Help at a Restaurant I
Being Served the Food
When the food is served at the restaurant, the server will sometimes remind us to be careful.
The server will sometimes say the dish name too.
In restaurants like cha chaan teng, we usually order our own food individually. The server will sometimes ask which person the food or drink is for.
- 邊個嘅 bin1 go3 ge3 / 邊位嘅 bin1 wai2 ge3 (‘whose’) + 呀 aa3 (Sentence particle for questions) = 邊個㗎 bin1 go3 gaa3 / 邊位㗎 bin1 wai2 gaa3
If we are not sure what the food or drink is, we can ask:
- We can replace the classifier 碟 dip6 (‘plate’) with other classifiers, such as 碗 wun2 (‘bowl’) and 杯 bui1 (‘cup’). We can also use the classifier 個 go3 if we’re not sure about the classifier.
If more than one person has ordered the same food or drink, but one person has special requirements, we can ask the staff which one is made with those special requirements.
If incorrect food is served, we can say:
Sometimes multiple plates, bowls or cups are served at once. If we’re not sure which one is ours, we can ask:
- We can replace the classifier 杯 bui1 (‘cup’) with other classifiers, such as 碟 dip6 (‘plate’) and 碗 wun2 (‘bowl’).
- 我嘅 ngo5 ge3 (mine) + 呀 aa3 (Sentence particle for questions) = 我㗎 ngo5 gaa3
If we’re not sure about what an ingredient inside a dish is, we can ask:
- We use 哦 o5 to respond when we finally know something we didn’t know before. Remember to say it longer. Otherwise, you may sound unfriendly.
We can also specify the type of food or drink in our questions.
- We can replace 肉 juk6 with other type food or drinks, such as 魚 jyu2 (‘fish’), 菜 coi3 (‘vegetable’), 麵 min6 (‘noodles’), 湯 tong1 (‘soup’) and 茶 caa4 (‘tea’).
If we want to take a picture of the food or drink before eating, we say:
During celebratory meals, we will sometimes drink a toast before eating.
Getting Help at a Restaurant I
During a meal, we may need help from the server, or the server may offer to help. We will learn about some common types of help below.
Adding water
If we want to add water to our cups or teapots, we can say:
- Notice we don’t usually use 吖 in a sentence with the modal verb 要 jiu3 or 想 soeng2 even if we are making a request.
If the server sees that our cups are almost empty, they may ask if we need to add water.
Removing plates
If we have finished some dishes and want to remove the plates from the table, we can say:
If the server sees that we have finished some dishes, they may ask if we still need the plates.
- 要 jiu3 is used as a verb (‘to want’) instead of a modal verb (‘to need to’) here. 呢碟嘢 ni1 dip6 je5 is the object of 要 jiu3. It is moved to the beginning of the sentence and becomes the topic of the sentence.
- To indicate that something is no longer needed, we usually say 唔要喇 m4 jiu3 laa3 instead of 唔使喇 m4 sai2 laa3.
Changing bowls or plates
If we want to change our bowls or plates, we can say:
If the server sees that our bowls or plates are too messy, they may ask if we need to change them.
Serving desserts
When we are ready to have the desserts, we can say:
If the server sees that we have finished the main dishes, they may ask if we want the desserts to be served.
Following up on dishes
If a dish still hasn’t arrived after a long wait, we can ask the server to follow up.