32.5 The Verbal Particle 返 / 番 / 翻 faan1 I (‘left’)
The verbal particle 返 faan1 (also written as 番 or 翻) can add the meaning of ‘left’ to the sentence (as in there are two cans of beer left). We use 返 faan1 to indicate that a certain quantity of something is left, in comparison to the original quantity. We only use 返 faan1 with several verbs to express this meaning. In this lesson, we will use 返 faan1 with the verbs 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) and 剩 zing6 (‘to remain’, also written as 淨).
得返兩罐啤酒咋。
dak1 faan1 loeng5 gun3 be1 zau2 zaa3.
There are only two cans of beer left.
剩返兩罐啤酒咋。
zing6 faan1 loeng5 gun3 be1 zau2 zaa3.
Only two cans of beer remain left.
We also use 返 faan1 with the verb 留 lau4 (‘to keep’) to indicate a certain quantity of something is kept, in comparison to the original quantity if nothing is kept.
留返一碗湯俾你吖。
lau4 faan1 jat1 wun2 tong1 bei2 nei5 aa1.
Let me keep one bowl of soup left to you.
The verbal particle 返 faan1 indicates that one bowl of soup is kept, in comparison to the original quantity when no soup is kept.