32.1 多 do1 (‘many, much; more’) and 少 siu2 (‘few, little; fewer, less’)

多 do1 means ‘many, much’, and 少 siu2 means ‘few, little’. We put 多 do1 or 少 siu2 before a noun. We usually add a degree word before 多 do1 or 少 siu2.

We combine the degree word 好 hou2 (‘very’) and 多 do1 (‘many, much’) to mean ‘a lot’.

We combine the degree word 好 hou2 (‘very’) and 少 siu2 (‘few, little’) to mean ‘very few, very little’.

We can also use other degree words (e.g., 勁 ging6 ‘strongly’, 超 ciu1 ‘super’).

We can say 少 siu2 twice to form the expression 少少 siu2 siu2, which means ‘a few, a little’. We don’t add a degree word before 少少 siu2 siu2. Note that we don’t have the expression 多多 do1 do1.

We can use 多 do1 with the verb 有 jau5 (‘to have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 少 siu2 with the verb 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 少少 siu2 siu2 with 有 jau5 (‘to have’) or 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 有冇 jau5 mou5 (‘to have + to not have’) to ask if there is something. When answering this type of question, we can omit the noun and say only the quantity.

多 do1 can also mean ‘more’, and 少 siu2 can also mean ‘fewer, less’. We use the following structure to express these meanings:

When the number is 一 jat1, we can optionally omit 一 jat1.

For plural (without an exact quantity) or uncountable nouns, we can use the classifier 啲 di1.

We usually omit 啲 di1 in some contracted expressions, such as the special requirements for food or drinks we learned previously.

We can also use 多啲 do1 di1 (‘more’) or 少啲 siu2 di1 (‘fewer, less’) alone.

We often add the aspect particle 咗 zo2 after 多 do1 or 少 siu2 if we want to indicate that the quantity of something is different from the expected or previous quantity.