Cantonese grammar #13: Cantonese modals 【廣東話情態動詞】

Introduction

Hey guys, welcome back to another lesson at Cantolounge! You’ll notice that in the previous lesson, where we talked about Cantonese comparisons, these lessons to learn Cantonese are starting to feel a lot less like grammar, and more like vocabulary lessons. As I’ve said right form the very start, unfortunately (or fortunately), the distinction between “grammar” and “vocabulary” starts to blur once you understand how Cantonese works (even at a basic level), because all Chinese languages neither conjugate nor decline. And in today’s lesson, we’ll have a look at another category of important words: Cantonese modals.

Video lesson

 

I apologize for the video guys, as it has been pointed out to me, I made an error when editing the video, so I’ve moved the last few minutes of the video to the front. The real start of the video is at the 4:26 mark.

Vocabulary list

Word	Jyutping	English	S/W/B
比著係我	bei2 zoek6 hai6 ngo5	if it were me	S
外判	ngoi6 pun3	to outsource	B
承包商	sing4 baau1 soeng1	contractor	B
外人	ngoi6 jan4	outsider	B
根本上	gan1 bun2 soeng5	fundamentally	B
熟悉	suk6 sik1	familiar with	B
內部	noi6 bou6	internal	B
運作	wan6 zok3	operations	B
句	geoi3	sentence	B
表達	biu2 daat6	to express	B
次序	ci3 zeoi6	order	B
稍為	saau2 wai4	slightly	B
順	seon6	smooth	B
基本上	gei1 bun2 soeng6	basically	B
𠺘口	long2 hau2	to rinse one’s mouth	S
牙線	ngaa4 sin3	dental floss	B
清潔	cing1 git3	to clean	B
牙縫	ngaa4 fung4	crevices between teeth	B
刷牙	caat3 ngaa4	to brush one’s teeth	B
貼	tip3	to stick on	B
潔白牙貼	git3 baak6 ngaa4 tip3	whitening strips	B
打麻雀	daa2 maa4 zoek2	to play mahjong	B
筆刨	pat1 paau2	pencil sharpener	B
新開	san1 hoi1	newly opened	B
麻辣火鍋	maa4 laat6 fo2 wo1	Sichuan spicy hotpot	B
本來	bun2 loi4	originally	B
留學	lau4 hok6	study abroad	B
基於	gei1 jyu1	based on	B
實用	sat6 jung6	practical	B
考慮	haau2 leoi6	considerations	B
最終	zeoi3 zung1	finally	B
選擇	syun2 zaak6	to choose	B
竭盡全力	git3 zeon6 cyun4 lik6	spare no effort	B
填補	tin4 bou2	to fill in	B
知識	zi1 sik1	knowledge	B
缺陷	kyut3 ham6	gaps	B
段	dyun6	segment	B
士多卑利醬	si6 do1 be1 lei2 zoeng3	strawberry sauce	S
工序	gung1 zeoi6	process	B
體恤	tai2 seot1	to empathize	B
市民	si5 man4	citizen	B
當官	dong1 gun1	to be a civil servant (in the government)	B
具備	geoi6 bei6	to have	B
基本	gei1 bun2	basic	B
素質	sou3 zat1	qualities	B
喪失	song3 sat1	to lose	B
親人	can1 jan4	loved ones	B
心情	sam1 cing4	mood	B
訴苦	sou3 fu2	to grieve	B
發洩	faat3 sit3	to vent	B
隨時隨刻	ceoi4 si4 ceoi4 haak1	any time of	B
身邊	san1 bin1	around	B
支持	zi1 ci4	to stand by	B
醃	jip3	to marinate	B
雞扒	gai1 paa2	cooked chicken (could be grilled, deep fried, etc.)	B
生粉	saang1 fan2	corn flour	B
口感	hau2 gam2	texture	B
怪	gwaai3	strange	B
耶穌	je4 sou1	Jesus	B
愛人如己	ngoi3 jan4 jyu4 gei2	love others as thyself	B
顆	fo2	classifier for heart	B
憐憫	lin4 man5	merciful, compassionate	B
對待	deoi3 doi6	to treat other people	B
包裹	baau1 gwo2	package	B
杳無音信	miu5 mou4 jam1 seon3	no news	B
激死我	gik1 sei2 ngo5	infuriating	S
擺埋一邊	baai2 maai4 jat1 bin1	to put something aside	S
德文	dak1 man2	German (the language)	B
實用性	sat6 jung6 sing3	practicality	B
波鞋	bo1 haai4	sneakers	S
兼職	gim1 zik1	part time	B
打工	daa1 gung1	to work a job	B
儲錢	cou5 cin2	to save money	S
巴黎	baa1 lai4	Paris	B
時裝設計	si4 zong1 cit3 gai3	fashion design	B
由細到大	jau4 sai3 dou3 daai6	from a young age	S
夢想	mung6 soeng2	dream	B
鍋	wo1	pot	B
工具	gung1 geoi6	tool	B
廣告	gwong2 gou3	ad	B
保險	bou2 him2	insurance	B
水分	seoi2 fan1	moisture; hydration	B
系統	hai6 tung2	system	B
失靈	sat1 ling4	out of order	B
復返你	fuk1 faan1 nei5	confirm an order (with a customer)	S
吉列豬扒	gat1 lit6 zyu1 paa2	tonkatsu (deep fried pork chop)	B
套餐	tou3 caan1	set meal	B
蒲燒鰻魚飯	pou4 siu1 maan6 jyu4	kabayaki eel rice	B
分店	fan1 dim3	branch (of a shop)	B
款	fun2	a style (wallet, shoes, etc.)	B
銀包	ngan2 baau1	wallets	B
冇貨	mou5 fo3	out of stock	S
經驗	ging1 jim6	experience	B
廁紙	ci3 zi2	tissue paper	B
長住	coeng4 zyu6	live for a long time in a place	B
按照	on3 ziu3	according to	B
本地	bun2 dei6	local	B
兩文三語	loeng5 man4 saam1 jyu5	biliteracy, trilingualism	B
政策	zing3 caak3	policy	B
掌握	zoeng2 aak1	to grasp	B
辛苦	san1 fu2	hard	B
周圍走	zau1 wai4 zau2	to walk around	B
好意	hou2 ji3	kindness	B
心領	sam1 ling5	to appreciate someone’s kindness	B
旁觀者	pong4 gun1 ze2	bystander	B
角度	gok3 dok6	perspective	B
得到	dak1 dou2	to obtain	B
身邊人	san1 bin1 jan4	people close to us	B
支持	zi1 ci4	to stand by	B
冷漠	laang5 mok6	indifferent	B
心淡	sam1 taam5	disheartened	B
天下	tin1 haa6	the world	B
害	hoi6	to harm	B
有關	jau5 gwaan1	related	B
手提電腦	sau2 tai4 din6 nou5	laptop	B
收緊	sau1 gan2	to tighten up	B
帶	daai2	to bring	B
公共場所	gung1 gung6 coeng4 so2	public places	B
公眾物品	gung1 zung3 mat6 ban2	public goods	B
塗鴉	tou4 aa1	to do graffiti	B
年輕人	nin4 heng1 jan4	young people	B
表態	biu2 taai3	to express	B
政治立場	zing3 zi6 laap6 coeng4	political stance	B
付出	fu6 ceot1	to pay	B
努力	nou5 lik6	efforts	B
渡過	dou6 gwo1	to sail through (a difficulty)	B
難關	naan4 gwaan1	difficulties	B
遇難	jyu6 naan6	to run into difficulties (huge difficulties)	B
曾經	cang4 ging1	once	B
好心有好報	hou2 sam1 jau5 hou2 bou3	as a man sows, so he shall reap	B
心地	sam1 dei2	heart	B
際遇	zai3 jyu6	fortunes	B
加入	gaa1 jap6	to join	B
團隊	tyun4 deoi2	team	B
功勞	gung1 lou4	credit	B
歸功於	gwai1 gung1 jyu1	to attribute effort (credit) someone	B
嫁	gaa3	to marry	B
藥	joek6	medicine	B
苦	fu2	bitter	B
山楂餅	saan1 zaa1 beng2	haw flakes	B
話梅	waa4 mui2	dried salted plum	B
心態	sam1 taai3	mentality	B
開口	hoi1 hau2	to open one’s mouth and speak	B
講錯嘢	gong2 co3 je5	to say something wrong	S
唔小心	m4 siu2 sam1	unintentionally	S
得罪	dak1 zeoi6	to offend	B
對方	deoi3 fong1	the other party	B
跳降落傘	tiu3 gong3 lok6 saan3	skydiving	B
心臟	sam1 zong6	heart	B
高危運動	gou1 ngai4 wan6 dung6	high-risk sports	B
罰企	fat6 kei5	to stand outside the classroom as a punishment	B
學期	hok6 kei4	semester	B
道歉	dou6 hip3	to apologize	B
桶	tung2	barrel	B
鼻屎	bei6 si2	booger	B
香檳	hoeng1 ban1	champagne	B
酒精	zau2 zing1	alcohol	B
𢭃	dau3	to touch; to mess with	S
頂唔順	ding2 m4 seon6	to not be able to tolerate	S
咖喱	gaa3 lei1	curry	B
和平	wo4 ping4	peace	B
戰爭	zin3 zang1	war	B
玻璃樽	bo1 lei1 zeon1	glass bottle	S
懶	laan5	lazy	B
擺	baai2	to place	S
保姆	bou2 mou5	nurse	B
活躍	wut6 joek3	active; high energy	B
湊	cau3	to look after children	S
交返畀你	gaau1 faan1 bei2 nei5	to return something to someone	S
感人	gam2 jan4	touching	B
場面	coeng4 min2	scene	B
忍唔住	jan2 m4 zyu6	can’t help but	S
喊	haam3	to cry	S
兄弟	hing1 dai6	brothers	B
親	can1	close (relationship)	B
分開	fan1 hoi1	to separate	B
剩低	zing6 dai1	leftovers	S
餸	sung3	food (served during a meal)	B
紐約	nau2 joek3	New York	B
上市	soeng5 si5	to go public	B
各方面	gok3 fong1 min6	various aspects	B
準備	zeon2 bei6	preparations	B
背囊	bui3 nong4	backpack	B
機場	gei1 coeng4	airport	B
豐澤	fung1 zaak6	Fortress (an electronics chain in Hong Kong)	B
電器	din6 hei3	electronics	B
興趣	hing3 ceoi3	interest	B
阿拉伯文	aa3 laai1 baak3 man4	Arabic (the language)	B
正式	zing3 sik1	formal	B
場合	coeng4 hap6	occasion	B
派…上場	paai1 … soeng5 coeng4	to send someone or something to an occasion	B
非母語者	fei1 mou5 jyu5 ze2	non-native speakers
鳳爪	fung6 zaau2	chicken feet	B
滋味	zi1 mei6	delicious	B
睇情況	tai2 cing4 fong3	depends on the situation	S
奇怪	kei4 gwaai3	strange	B
擔心	daam1 sam1	to worry	B
油尖旺	jau4 zim1 wong6	shorthand for Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok	B
嗰頭	go2 tau4	that area	S
蒲	pou4	to hang out	S
回憶	wui4 jik1	memories	B
勸	hyun3	to advise, to urge	B
提	tai4	to mention	B
黑人	hak1 jan4	black people	B
喵嘴喵舌	miu2 zeoi2 miu2 sit6	to make condescending facial expressions	S
白人	baak6 jan4	white people	B
高人一等	gou1 jan4 jat1 dang2	superior	B
乞人憎	hat1 jan4 zang1	loathsome behaviour	S
出門	ceot1 mun4	to head out	B
煤氣	mui4 hei3	gas	B
電源	din6 jyun4	power supply	B
意外	ji3 ngoi6	accident	B
後悔莫及	hau6 fui3 mok6 kap6	too late to regret something	B
禮儀	lai5 ji4	etiquette	B
疊	daap6	pile	B
國際巨星	gwok3 zai3 geoi6 sing1	international superstar	B
容許	jung4 heoi2	to allow	B
放肆	fong3 si3	presumptuous	B
警告	ging2 gou3	to warn	B
無理取鬧	mou4 lei5 ceoi2 naau6	describes someone who’s a pointless troublemaker	B
報警	bou3 ging2	to call the cops	B
港產	gong2 caan2	Hong Kong produced	B
煙韌	jin1 ngan6	chewy	S
彈牙	daan6 ngaa4	bouncy	S
罪魁禍首	zeoi6 fui1 wo6 sau2	the culprit	B
定罪	ding6 zeoi6	to convict	B
撞	zong6	to bump into	B
有心	jau5 sam1	deliberately	S
上心	soeng5 sam1	to take something to heart	B

Cantonese modals…what are they?

To start off with, let’s have a look at what “modals” are.

To those of you who don’t particularly like grammar jargon, I do apologize for including it almost every time in the title, unfortunately I need something to group a collection of concepts together, and grammar jargon happens to fulfill that role nicely. 🙂

Anyway, “modals” is a fancy way of saying “words that allow us to express different moods and our intentions”. If that sounds a bit vague, don’t worry, that’ll go away with a few examples.

If you have a background in Romance languages, the notion of “modals” can be found in tenses. Any tenses that ring a bell related to moods? (*wink wink*) Yes, the subjunctive is probably one of the more obvious examples.

J’espère que…

J’exige que…

Es posible que…

Dudo que…

This group of words commonly express things like wishes (exiger, insistir), emotions (se sentir, sentir), recommendations (ordonner, ordenar), doubt (douter, dudar).

In English, modals aren’t necessarily talked about as much, because verbs don’t change as they do in French or Spanish, but they exist too.

From Wikipedia, this includes words like may, can, must, ought, will, shall, need, dare, might, could, would, and should.

Pretty straightforward, hmm?

In Cantonese, like English, modals don’t change at all (e.g. you may have, they may have, she may have), so there’s no “rules” you need to remember in applying them. But because this group of words are so important to express pretty much anything, I thought it’d be nice to do a comb through of some of the more common Cantonese modals you’ll come across.

So, like the previous lesson, this will be examples heavy, instead of explanation heavy – I hope these examples will shed some light on how these words are used properly in Cantonese.

Alright, let’s grab a cup of coffee (or whatever you like to drink) and get started!

Cantonese modal #1: 會 wui5

As we talked about in a previous lesson describing the “Cantonese future tense”, 會 was pretty much the star of our lesson. It’s simple – add 會 before a verb, and you’ll get the future tense.

For example,

我陣間會去圖書館搵一本書。

ngo5 zan6 gaan1 wui5 heoi3 tou4 syu1 gun2 wan2 jat1 bun2 syu1.

I’ll go to the library later to find a book.

But there are also two other common usages of 會 that I feel you should know.

First of all, 會 can also be used to indicate the conditional, i.e. in general, “would” generally translates to 會 as well.

For example,

比著係我嘅話，我一定唔會外判俾承包商囉，因為外人根本上唔熟悉我哋嘅內部運作。

bei2 zeok6 hai6 ngo5 ge3 waa6, ngo5 jat1 ding6 m4 wui5 ngoi6 pun3 bei2 sing4 baau1 soeng1 lo1, jan1 wai6 ngoi6 jan4 gan1 bun2 soeng6 m4 suk6 sik1 ngo5 dei6 ge3 noi6 bou6 wan6 zok3.

If I were me, I would most certainly not have outsourced this to a contractor, because outsiders are completely unfamiliar with our internal operations.

呢句嘢用廣東話我唔會咁樣表達，將個次序稍為變一下會順好多嘅。

ni1 geoi3 je5 jung6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 ngo5 m4 wui5 gam2 joeng2 biu2 daat6, zoeng1 go3 ci3 zeoi6 saau2 wai4 bin3 jat1 haa5 wui5 seon6 hou2 do1 ge3.

I would probably not express this sentence like this in Cantonese, it will sound a lot smoother if you change the word order slightly.

(Notice how the 會 maps to “would” in the first part of the sentence, and “will” in the second part.)

Second of all, you can also use 會 to discuss things you do on a habitual basis. If memory serves, we’ve mentioned this before in the lesson discussing the Cantonese present tense, but since repetition is good for reinforcement, that’s what we’re going to do here. 🙂

我基本上每日都會𠺘完口，用牙線清潔完牙縫，刷完牙，貼完潔白牙貼先至會瞓覺。

ngo5 gei1 bun2 soeng6 mui5 jat6 dou1 wui5 long2 jyun4 hau2, jung6 ngaa5 sin3 cing1 git3 jyun4 ngaa4 fung4, tip3 jyun4 ngaa4, tip3 jyun4 git3 baak6 ngaa4 tip3 sin1 zi3 wui5 fan3 gaau3.

I basically rinse, floss, brush and put on dental strips before sleeping every night.

陳太每個禮拜六都會約班朋友飲茶同埋打麻雀，十年都冇變過。

can4 taai2 mui5 go3 lai5 baai3 luk6 dou1 wui5 joek3 baan1 pang4 jau5 jam2 caa4 tung4 maai4 daa2 maa4 zoek2, sap6 nin4 dou1 mou5 bin3 gwo3.

Mrs. Chan usually meets up with her friends to go yum cha and play mahjong every Saturday, this has pretty much been unchanged for the last ten years.

Cantonese modal #2: 可以 ho2 ji5

可以 simply means “can”, and you can pretty much use it the same way you’d use it in English, as in “you are allowed to”, “it’s possible for you to”.

喂，sorry啊，你可唔可以借個筆刨俾我用下啊？

wei3, sorry aa3, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 ze3 go3 bat1 paau2 bei2 ngo5 jung6 haa5 aa3?

Hey, sorry, do you mind lending me your pencil sharpener?

如果你可以食辣嘅話，不如我哋陣間一齊試下新開嗰間麻辣火鍋呀！

jyu4 gwo2 nei5 ho2 ji5 sik6 laat6 ge3 waa6, bat1 jyu4 ngo5 dei6 zan6 gaan1 jat1 cai4 sii3 haa5 san1 hoi1 go2 gaan1 maa4 laat6 fo2 wo1 aa1!

If you’re up for spicy foods, why don’t we try out the new Sichuan spicy hot pot place!

我本來可以喺法國留學嘅，但係基於實用嘅考慮，我最終都選擇唔去。

ngo5 bun2 loi4 ho2 ji5 hai2 faat3 gwok3 lau4 hok6 ge3, daan6 hai6 gei1 jyu1 sat6 jung6 ge3 haau2 leoi6, ngo5 zeoi3 zung1 dou1 syun2 zaak6 m4 heoi3.

I originally could have studied abroad in France, but based on pragmatic considerations, I decided against it in the end.

Cantonese modal #3: 識

Next up, we have 識. 識 translates directly to “to know how to”, or simply “can”. So when you want to say things that you’re capable of doing, especially things that are related to skills (I can swim, I can drive, I can speak Farsi), feel free to plop it in the sentence.

Please also note that 識 also has a second meaning, which means “to know someone” (我識佢). It’s not completed related to what we’re discussing here, but I thought it useful to bring it up.

我雖然唔識講英文，但係我而家竭盡全力去填補知識嘅缺陷。

ngo5 seoi1 jin4 m5 sik1 gong2 jing1 man2, daan6 hai6 ngo5 ji4 gaa1 kit3 zeon6 cyun4 lik6 heoi3 tin4 bou2 zi1 sik1 ge3 kyut3 ham6.

Even though I can’t speak English, I’m doing my best to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.

原來學嘢過咗一段時間就會唔記得，譬如話我一年前學過整士多卑利醬嘅工序，但係一年之後嘅我完全唔識整！

jyun4 loi4 hok6 je5 gwo3 zo2 jat1 dyun6 si4 gaan3 zau6 wui5 m4 gei3 daak1, pei3 jyu4 waa6 ngo5 jat1 nin4 cin4 hok6 gwo3 zing2 si6 do1 be1 lei2 zoeng3 ge3 gung1 zeoi6, daan6 hai6 jat1 nin4 zi1 hau6 ge3 ngo5 jyun4 cyun4 m4 sik1 zing2!

It appears to be true that we forget stuff we’ve learned after a while, for example, just about a year ago, I remember learning the entire process of making strawberry jam, but the me a year after has no clue how to do it!

Cantonese modal #4: 能夠

能夠 is an interesting modal, because you won’t hear it as often as the other ones on the list. But because it still comes up, I thought it important to include it in the list.

To be more specific, 能夠 means “can” as well, or “to be able to”. However, 能夠 is more written than spoken, so you won’t hear it used in everyday conversations. The times where it might pop up would be when, for example, politicians speak and they want to sound more formal, or you’re talking with someone who speaks Cantonese in a more literary flavour.

a.k.a. 能夠 = used in more serious occasions

能夠體恤市民生活上嘅問題係當官應該具備最基本嘅素質。

nang4 gau3 tai2 seot1 si5 man4 sang1 wut6 soeng6 ge3 man6 tai4 hai6 dong1 gun1 jing1 goi1 geoi6 bei6 zeoi3 gei1 bun2 ge3 sou3 zat1.

The ability to empathize with citizens is a fundamental quality that civil servants should possess.

我雖然唔能夠明白你喪失咗親人嘅心情，但係如果你需要搵個人訴苦、發洩一下嘅話，我隨時隨刻都會喺你身邊支持你。

ngo5 seoi1 jin4 m4 nang4 gau3 ming4 baak3 nei5 song3 sat1 zo2 can1 jan4 ge3 sam1 cing4 , daan6 hai6 jyu4 gwo2 nei5 seoi1 jiu3 wan2 go3 jan4 sou3 fu2, faat3 sit3 jat1 haa5 ge3 waa6 , ngo5 ceoi4 si4 ceoi4 hak1 dou1 wui5 hai2 nei5 san1 bin1 zi1 ci4 nei5 。

I might not be able to understand what it feels like to lose a loved one, but if you ever need someone to grieve with, or just vent, just remember that I’ll always be by your side supporting you.

Cantonese modal #5: 應該 (it was supposed to, should)

應該 takes on two nuances that you need to be familiar with. The first meaning is directly the one you’ll probably find in the dictionary, meaning “should”, or if you’re British and more traditional “ought to”.

醃雞扒嘅時候你唔應該擺太多生粉，如果唔係個口感會好怪。

jip3 gai1 paa2 ge3 si4 hau6 nei5 m4 jing1 goi1 baai2 taai3 do1 saang1 fan2 , jyu4 gwo2 m4 hai6 go3 hau2 gam2 wui5 hou2 gwaai3 .

When marinating chicken, you ought not to have put in so much corn starch, or else the texture turns weird.

好似耶穌咁講，我哋應該愛人如己，以一顆憐憫嘅心對待其他人。

hou2 ci5 je4 sou1 gam2 gong2, ngo5 dei6 jing1 goi1 ngoi3 jan4 jyu4 gei2, ji5 jat1 fo2 lin4 man5 ge3 sam1 deoi3 doi6 kei4 taa1 jan4.

As Jesus said, we should “love thy neighbour as thyself”, and treat others with a compassionate heart.

You’ll often hear 應該 used in a slightly different sense as well, translating to “should have + verb-ed” or “it’s supposed to have + verb-ed”. So whenever you want to express these things, plop in the word.

個包裹本來應該十一點到，估唔到等咗成日都杳無音信，真係激死我。

go3 baau1 gwo2 bun2 loi4 jing3 goi1 sap6 jat1 dim2 dou3 , gu2 m4 dou3 dang2 zo2 sing4 jat6 dou1 miu5 mou4 jam1 seon3 , zan1 hai6 gik1 sei2 ngo5 .

The package was supposed to arrive at 11, who knew there wouldn’t even be a single message from the delivery company even after waiting the entire day, infuriating!

啲小食本來應該只係畀啲嘉賓用嘅，不過啲人都差唔多走曬喇，你想食乜就食乜啦。

di1 siu2 sik6 bun2 loi4 jing1 goi1 zi2 hai6 bei2 di1 gaa1 ban1 jung6 ge3 , bat1 gwo3 di1 jan4 dou1 caa1 m4 do1 zau2 saai3 laak3 , nei5 soeng2 sik6 mat1 zau6 sik6 mat1 laa1 .

The snacks were originally guests-only, but since everyone’s almost gone, you can feel free to eat whatever you want.

Cantonese modal #6: 想、想要

想 is straightforward enough. It simply means “to want”.

我其實想買新嘅 iPhone 好耐嘅嘞，但係一直都好忙，所以只好擺埋一邊。

ngo5 kei4 sat6 soeng2 maai5 san1 ge3  iPhone  hou2 noi6 ge3 laak3 , daan6 hai6 jat1 zik6 dou1 hou2 mong4 , so2 ji5 zi2 hou2 baai2 maai4 jat1 bin1 .

I’ve actually been wanting to get a new iPhone for a while, but because I’ve been so busy, I’ve been putting it off the whole time.

我唔係唔想學德文，但係考慮到我人生入面嘅實用性之後，我都係決定而家唔係時候去學。

ngo5 m4 hai6 m4 soeng2 hok6 dak1 man2, daan6 hai6 haau2 leoi6 dou3 ngo5 jan4 sang1 jap6 min6 ge3 sat6 jung6 sing3 zi1 hau6, ngo5 dou1 hai6 kyut3 ding6 ji4 gaa1 m4 hai6 si4 hau6 heoi3 hok6.

It’s not that I don’t want to learn German, but considering the practical value of it in my life, I’ve decided that it’s not the time to learn it.

However, when you say you want something (as in you want to get something), instead of just “you want to + verb something”, then a more natural natural translation is 想要. I’m mentioning this because 想 and 要 are modals that can mean different things, and it’s not unnatural to think, “if you put the two together, what does it mean?” Maybe that’s one of the harder things of learning Chinese, when learning words that are made up of characters that mean different things.

如果你想要嗰對波鞋，我建議你兼職打工儲錢去買。

jyu4 gwo2 nei5 soeng2 jiu3 go2 deoi3 bo1 haai4, ngo5 gin3 ji3 nei5 gim1 zik1 daa2 gung1 cou5 cin2 heoi3 maai5.

If you want that pair of sneakers, I suggest you work part time and save up for it.

去巴黎學時裝設計係我由細到大嘅夢想，所以我相信好似法國人話齋，「vouloir, c’est pouvoir」，只要你想要，你就可以得到。

heoi3 baa1 lai4 hok6 si4 zong1 cit3 gai3 hai6 ngo5 jau4 sai3 dou3 daai6 ge3 mung6 soeng2 ，so2 ji5 ngo5 soeng1 seon3 hao2 ci5 faat3 gwok3 jan4 waa6 zaai1 ，「 vouloir , c ’ est  pouvoir 」 ，zi2 jiu3 nei5 soeng2 jiu3 ，nei5 zau6 ho2 ji5 dak1 dou3 。

Studying fashion design in Paris has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, and as the French say, “vouloir, c’est pouvoir”, “to want is to can”.

Cantonese modal #7: 要、需要、必須、必需

Moving on!

Here we have a few words that express obligation. 要, in particular can mean two things. First of all, it can mean “must”, and it’s a shorthand of the word “需要”.

On that note, you might also see the words “必須” and “必需” along the way. Both are pronounced “bit1 seoi1”, so please be careful of the distinction between them. They both mean very similar things, but they’re used differently.

To be more precise, 必須 (聽日你必須做完呢樣嘢) is usually followed by a verb, whereas 必需 (鍋係廚房嘅必需工具) is usually followed by a noun.

Bonus points if you can distinguish between 需 and 須…even natives sometimes get them confused.

Anyway, diving into examples!

廣告都咁講啦，出去外國去旅行嗰陣一定要買齊保險先至好去。

gwong2 gou3 dou1 gam2 gong2 laa1, ceot1 heoi3 ngoi6 gwok3 heoi3 leoi5 hang4 go2 zan6 jat1 ding6 jiu3 maai5 cai4 bou2 him2 sin1 zi3 hou2 heoi3.

They even say it in the commercials, when you travel abroad, you gotta buy insurance before going.

夏天嘅時候真係要飲多啲水，如果唔係身體會唔夠水分。

haa6 tin1 ge3 si4 hau6 zan1 hai6 jiu3 jam2 do1 di1 seoi2 , jyu4 gwo2 m4 hai6 san1 tai2 wui5 m4 gau3 seoi2 fan6 .

We really need to drink more water during summer, or else our body won’t be sufficiently hydrated.

The second common usage of 要 is “to want”, which I think of as being the short form of 想要. You’ll often hear this when ordering food in restaurants, or when going shopping, interacting with staff on site.

唔好意思啊，頭先個系統失靈，我想復返你一下，你係要吉列豬扒個套餐定係蒲燒鰻魚飯呢？

m4 hou2 ji3 si1 aa3, tau4 sin1 go3 hai6 tung2 sat1 ling4, ngo5 soeng2 fuk1 faan1 nei5 jat1 haa5, nei5 hai6 jiu3 gat1 lit6 zyu1 paa2 go3 tou3 caan1 ding6 hai6 pou4 siu1 maan6 jyu4 faan6 ne1?

Excuse me, the system just had a malfunction just now, I would like to confirm your order with you, did you want the fried pork cutlet set or the grilled eel set?

先生，我頭先同其他分店嘅同時 check 過喇，你想要嗰款銀包暫時冇曬貨，真係唔好意思啊。

sin1 saang1 , ngo5 tau4 sin1 tung4 kei4 taa1 fan1 dim3 ge3 tung4 si4  check  gwo3 laak3 , nei5 soeng2 jiu3 go2 fun2 ngan4 baau1 zaam6 si4 mou5 saai3 fo3 , zan1 hai6 m4 hou2 ji3 si1 aa3 .

Sir, I’ve just checked with other branches, the wallet you were looking for is currently out of stock, I apologize for the inconvenience.

Cantonese modal #8: 需要、唔使、唔需要

需要 means “to need to”, but please be aware that there are two commonly used negations: 唔需要 (which should be obvious), and 唔使 (less obvious!). 使 is also a heteronym, it can be pronounced sai2, si2 and si3, but here, the pronunciation is sai2.

憑我住喺上海三年嘅經驗，我可以同你講，如果你要去中國嘅話就需要帶齊三樣嘢：錢、手機、廁紙。

pang4 ngo5 zyu6 hai2 soeng6 hoi2 saam1 nin4 ge3 ging1 jim6 , ngo5 ho2 ji5 tung4 nei5 gong2 , jyu4 gwo2 nei5 jiu3 heoi3 zung1 gwok3 ge3 waa6 zau6 seoi1 jiu3 daai3 cai4 saam1 joeng6 je5 ：cin2, sau2 gei1, ci3 zi2 .

From my three years of experience living in Shanghai, I can tell you, if you need to go to China, you need to have three things on you at all times: money, a cellphone, and tissue paper.

如果你想喺香港長住嘅話就需要按照本地嘅兩文三語嘅政策掌握好廣東話、普通話同埋英文。

jyu4 gwo2 nei5 soeng2 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 coeng4 zyu6 ge3 waa6 zau6 seoi1 jiu3 on3 ziu3 bun2 dei6 ge3 loeng5 man4 saam1 jyu5 ge3 zing3 caak3 zoeng2 ngaak1 hou2 gwong2 dung1 waa2, pou2 tung1 waa2 tung4 maai4 jing1 man2.

If you want to live in Hong Kong permanently, you need to develop a good grasp of Cantonese, Mandarin and English as per the local policy of “Biliteracy and Trilingualism”.

其實呢道係有啲 locker 喺出面可以用嘅，你唔使咁辛苦攞住咁重嘅嘢周圍走。

kei4 sat6 ni1 dou6 hai6 jau5 di1 locker hai6 ceot1 min6 ho2 ji5 jung6 ge3, nei5 m4 sai2 gam3 san1 fu2 lo2 zyu6 gam3 cung5 ge3 je5 zau1 wai4 zau2.

There’s actually a set of lockers outside you can use, you don’t have to walk around carrying such heavy things around.

非常之感謝你嘅好意，我真係心領啦，但係目前為止我真係唔需要你嘅幫忙。

fei1 soeng4 zi1 gam2 ze6 nei5 ge3 hou2 ji3 , ngo5 zan1 hai6 sam1 ling5 laa3 , daan6 hai6 muk6 cin4 wai4 zi2 ngo5 zan1 hai6 m4 seoi1 jiu3 nei5 ge3 bong1 mong4.

Thank you for your good intentions, I really appreciate it, but I really don’t require your assistance at present.

Cantonese modal #9: 希望

希望 can mean “hope” standalone as a noun, or “to hope” as a verb. You can pretty much use it the same way as you do English.

其實從一個旁觀者嘅角度，任何人都可以睇到阿寶最希望得到嘅就係身邊人嘅支持，所以見到佢屋企人對佢咁冷漠真係心淡。

kei4 sat6 cung4 jat1 go3 pong4 gun1 ze2 ge3 gok3 dou6 , jam6 ho4 jan4 dou1 ho2 ji5 tai2 dou2 aa3 bou2 zeoi3 hei1 mong6 dak1 dou2 ge3 zau6 hai6 san1 bin1 jan4 ge3 zi1 ci4 , so2 ji5 gin3 dou2 keoi5 nguk1 kei5 jan4 deoi3 keoi5 gam3 laang5 mok6 zan1 hai6 sam1 taam5.

From the standpoint of a bystander, anyone can see that what 阿寶 wants the most is support from people around him, so it’s quite disheartening to see his family treating him so coldly.

天下所有嘅爸爸媽媽都希望畀最好嘅自己啲仔女，冇人會想害自己嘅細路仔。

tin1 haa6 so2 jau5 ge3 baa4 baa1 maa4 maa1 dou1 hei1 mong6 bei2 zeoi3 hou2 ge3 zi6 gei2 di1 zai2 neoi2, mou5 jan4 wui5 soeng2 hoi6 zi6 gei2 ge3  sai3 lou6 zai2.

All parents wish to provide the best of everything for their kids, no one wishes to harm their own children.

Cantonese modal #10: 准、唔准

准 is quite an interesting word. It’s commonly used in schools by teachers or by figures of authorities, maybe something like the police, so while you might not hear it everywhere, it’s something that’s important nevertheless.

In a nutshell, it means “to be allowed to”. You can probably imagine why it’s found only in specific circumstances now, hmm? 🙂

Okay, more examples.

近年嚟學校對於有關手提電腦嘅使用政策收得越嚟越緊，而家連帶都唔准帶。

gan6 nin4 lei4 hok6 haau6 deoi3 jyu1 jau5 gwaan1 sau2 tai4 din6 nou5 ge3 sai2 jung6 zing3 caak3 sau1 dak1 jyut6 lei4 jyut6 gan2, ji4 gaa1 lin4 daai3 dou1 m4 zeon2 daai3.

In recent years, the school has tightened its policy with regards to laptops, it’s now impermissible to even bring it to school.

任何嘅公共場所都唔准任何人喺公眾物品上面塗鴉，但係越嚟越多年輕人都會選擇以塗鴉嘅方式表態自己嘅政治立場。

jam6 ho4 ge3 gung1 gung6 coeng4 so2 dou1 m4 zeon2 jam6 ho4 jan4 hai2 gung1 zung3 mat6 ban2 soeng5 min6 tou4 aa1 , daan6 hai6 jyut6 lai4 jyut6 do1 nin4 hing1 jan4 dou1 wui5 syun2 zaak6 ji5 tou4 aa1 ge3 fong1 sik1 biu2 taai3 zi6 gei2 ge3 zing3 zi6 lap6 coeng4.

It’s forbidden to make graffiti on public property in public spaces, but more and more youngsters have turned to graffiti as a means to express their political stances.

Cantonese modal #11: 肯、唔肯、制、唔制

肯 means “to be willing to”. It’s one of the most fundamental words to learn in the beginning, yet I feel that it’s not really something that’s thought of as “grammar” in other languages. Here’s a chance to forge a strong association with the concept of “willingness” in Cantonese. 🙂

你如果自己唔肯付出努力嘅話，就算我肯幫你都冇用。

nei5 jyu4 gwo2 zi6 gei2 m4 hang2 fu6 ceot1 nou5 lik6 ge3 waa6, zau6 syun3 ngo5 hang2 bong1 nei5 dou1 mou5 jung6.

If you yourself are unwilling to put in the effort, even if I help you, it’s a lost cause.

佢肯幫你渡過難關嘅原因係因為當佢遇難嘅時候你都曾經幫過佢，所謂「好心有好報」，心地好嘅人嘅際遇唔會差得去邊嘅。

keoi5 hang2 bong1 nei5 dou6 gwo3 naan4 gwaan1 ge3 jyun4 jan1 hai6 jan1 wai6 dong1 keoi5 jyu6 naan4 ge3 si4 hau6 nei5 dou1 cang4 ging1 bong1 gwo3 keoi5 , so2 wai6 「 hou2 sam1 jau5 hou2 bou3 」, sam1 dei2 hou2 ge3 jan4 ge3 zai3 jyu6 m4 wui5 caa1 dak1 heoi3 bin1 ge3.

The reason he’s willing to help you through this crisis is because when he was in a similar crisis, you’ve helped him out as well, it’s really as the saying goes, “as a man sows, so he shall reap”, the fortunes of those who are kind-hearted tend to be more favourable.

制 is also used to express willingness, but its usage is slightly different from 肯. Whereas 肯 is seen followed by another verb (肯做，肯食), 制 is usually seen in short phrases, as in 我唔制 or 我制. It also sounds a lot more colloquial, and while 肯 can be used in both speaking and writing, 制 can only be used when speaking.

如果佢加入我哋團隊嘅話，我就一定唔制。

jyu4 gwo2 keoi5 gaa1 jap6 ngo5 dei6 ge3 tyun4 deoi2 ge3 waa6, ngo5 zau6 jat1 ding6 m4 zai3.

If he’s going to join our team, I’d be most unwilling to accept it.

我唔制啊！你點可以將我哋嘅功勞同付出歸功於佢㗎！

ngo5 m4 zai3 aa3! nei5 dim2 ho2 ji5 zoeng3 ngo5 dei2 ge3 gung1 lou4 tung4 fu6 ceot1 gwai1 gung1 jyu1 keoi5 gaa2!

Hell no! How could you just hand over all the credit to him!

Cantonese modal #12: 願意

願意, interestingly enough, also means “to be willing to”.

So what’s the difference?

It turns out that there is a subtle but important difference. 願意 implies that you’re willing to do something completely, happily, from the bottom of your heart, whereas 肯 may (or may not, depends on the situation) imply that you’re accepting an outcome, but maybe a bit begrudingly, perhaps even with a bit of reluctance or when under pressure.

For example, in the first example below, when exchanging vows with your spouse, you would say 我願意 instead of 我肯. 我肯 would imply that you’re okay with getting married, as in, “if I get married, I’d be okay with that”, so there’s acceptance, but also a bit of reluctance as well.

我願意嫁俾你！

ngo5 jyun6 ji3 gaa3 bei2 nei5!

I do!

隻藥咁苦，你又冇山楂餅或者話梅喺度，小朋友梗係唔願意食啦！

zek3 joek6 gam3 fu2 , nei5 jau6 mou5 saan1 caa1 beng2 waak6 ze2 waa6 mui2 hai2 dou6 , siu2 pang4 jau5 gang2 hai6 m4 jyun6 ji3 sik6 laa1!

This medicine is really bitter, and you have neither hawthorn flakes nor dried salted plums to go with it, of course your kid isn’t willing to take it!

Cantonese modal #13: 敢

敢 is another important word, meaning “to dare to”. Again, for some reason, it’s not often mentioned, probably because it’s not thought of as “grammar”. But in Cantonese, I feel it’s used very often, so examples here we come!

我其實好明白學習語言嘅人嘅心態，學習者之所以唔敢開口講嘢係因為佢哋可能怕講錯嘢，唔小心得罪對方。

ngo5 kei4 sat6 hou2 ming4 baak3 hok6 zaap6 jyu5 jin4 ge3 jan4 ge3 sam1 taai3 , hok6 zaap6 ze2 zi1 so2 ji5 m4 gam2 hoi1 hau2 gong2 je5 hai6 jan1 wai6 keoi5 dei6 ho2 nang4 paa3 gong2 co3 je5 , m4 siu2 sam1 dak1 zeoi6 deoi3 fong1.

I can really empathize with those who are learning languages, the reason behind learners’ reluctance to speak up is because of the fear of being wrong, and wronging someone accidentally in the process.

我唔係唔敢跳降落傘，我係有心臟嘅問題，所以唔可以做呢啲高危嘅運動。

ngo5 m4 hai6 m4 gam2 tiu3 gong3 lok6 saan3, ngo5 hai6 jau5 sam1 zong6 ge3 man6 tai4, so2 ji5 m4 ho2 ji5 zou6 ni1 di1 gou1 ngai4 ge3 wan6 dung6.

It’s not that I’m unwilling to skydive, it’s to do with the fact that I have cardiac problems, so I can’t get involved in such high risk sports.

Cantonese modal #14: 寧願

寧願 is a very important structure, and it’s usually seen in the form 寧願…都唔…, which translates to “I’d rather to A than B”. A very useful structure, no?

Let’s have a look at some examples.

我寧願罰企一個學期都唔願意向佢道歉！

ngo5 ning4 jyun2 fat6 kei5 jat1 go3 hok6 kei4 dou1 m4 jyun6 ji3 hoeng3 keoi5 dou6 hip3!

I’d rather stand outside the classroom for a semester than apologize to him!

我寧願死都唔願意食一桶鼻屎！

ngo5 ning4 jyun2 sei2 dou1 m4 jyun6 ji3 sik6 jat1 tung2 bei6 si2!

I’d rather die than to eat a bucket of boogers!

Cantonese modal #15: 得、唔得

得, if you’ll remember from our previous lesson on Cantonese adverbs, was the star of the lesson, being the instrumental word that allows use to construct adverb phrases (e.g. I did this slowly 我做得好慢).

However, this is where language gets a bit less straightforward.

In the beginning stages, most of the words you learn will stick easily. The reason, as I’ve mentioned before in the Complete Guide to Learn Cantonese, is because the meaning of those words don’t diverge (compare “a piano” with “to come”, a piano is just a piano, but to come – think of these combinations – “come on”, “come out”, “come up with”, “come around”, “come to”, “come near”, “come for”, etc.).

This is one of the main differences learning a language at a beginner’s and an intermediate level.

However, some words are so important that it’s important to grasp not just their most common usages, but also other usages, and 得 is one of those words.

Here, as a Cantonese modal, 得 can mean “to be permitted to”, or “to be able to”, as an alternative to the different “can’s” we’ve presented above.  

呢杯香檳飲得，但係擺喺個「VIP」部分嘅酒精全部都唔可以𢭃。

ni1 bui1 hoeng1 ban1 jam2 dak1, daan6 hai6 baai2 hai2 go3 VIP bou6 fan6 ge3 zau2 zing1 cyun4 bou6 dou1 m4 ho2 ji3 dau3.

This champagne is okay, but the stuff in the VIP section are off limits.

如果好似我咁食得辣嘅人都頂唔順呢個咖喱嘅話呢，你就一定唔食得。

jyu4 gwo2 hou2 ci5 ngo5 gam3 sik6 dak1 laat6 ge3 jan4 dou1 ding2 m4 seon6 ne1 go3 gaa3 lei1 ge3 waa6 ne1 , nei5 zau6 jat1 ding6 m4 sik6 dak1.

If someone who has a high spiciness tolerance like me can’t stand this curry, there’s no way you’d be okay with it.

Last but not least, I’d like to mention that 得 or 唔得 can be used standalone as a response to someone when they ask you if you’re able to do something. For example, if someone asks you if you can come to a dinner party, you can simply respond “得” or “唔得”.

Cantonese modal #16: 到

Tones aren’t really a deal breaker most of the times, but this is one such exception. 到 takes on two functions, but both functions take on different tones. The 到 we’re concerned with today takes on the second tone, dou2, so don’t forget that!

到 in this sense means “to be able to”, yet another possible translation for “can”. Don’t worry, we’ll have a look at the differences later. For now, examples. 🙂

唔好意思啊，我頭先搵咗好耐都搵唔到「和平與戰爭」呢本書，你可唔可以幫我 check 下喺邊度呢？

m4 hou2 ji3 si1 aa3, ngo5 tau4 sin1 wan2 zo2 hou2 noi6 dou1 wan2 m4 dou2 “wo4 ping4 jyu5 zin3 zang1” ni1 bun2 syu1, nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 bong1 ngo5 check haa5 hai2 bin1 dou6 ne1?

Excuse me, I’ve been looking for a long time and I still didn’t manage to find the book “Peace and War”, could you help me check?

我之所以問佢幫我攞個玻璃樽唔係因為我懶，而係因為擺得太高，我攞唔到。

ngo5 zi1 so2 ji5 man6 keoi5 bong1 ngo5 lo2 go3 bo1 lei1 zeon1 m4 hai6 jan1 wai6 ngo5 laan5, ji4 hai6 jan1 wai6 baai2 dak1 taai3 gou1, ngo5 lo2 m4 dou2.

The reason I asked him to fetch me the glass isn’t because I’m lazy, it’s just because it’s too high, and out of my reach.

Negating Cantonese modals

Next up, I thought I’d bring up an interesting pattern of negation that doesn’t fit into the “唔 + thing to negate” pattern.

More specifically, certain verbs in Cantonese are made up of two or more characters. And there are certain words that require the splitting of the verb into its individual characters and inserting the 唔 between the characters.

I only mention this in the passing, this isn’t the most important thing to know of as a pattern, simply to know that it exists, and to learn it whenever you happen across such an example.

Here are four to start you off with.

羅生羅太，真係唔好意思，我做咗保姆二十年未見過好似你個仔咁活躍嘅小朋友，我自問湊唔掂你個仔，所以而家將佢交返畀你。

lo4 saang1 lo4 taai3, zan1 hai6 m4 hou2 ji3 si1, ngo5 zou6 zo2 bou2 mou5 ji6 sap6 nin4 mei6 gin3 gwo3 hou2 ci5 nei5 go3 zai2 gam3 wut6 joek3 ge3 siu2 pang4 jau5, ngo5 zi6 man6 cau3 m4 dim6 nei5 go3 zai2, so2 ji5 ji4 gaa1 zoeng1 keoi5 gaau1 faan1 bei2 nei5.

Mr. and Mrs. Lo, I’m really sorry, but in my twenty years of being a nanny, I’ve never met a kid that’s as active as yours, and since I can honestly say I can’t manage him, I’m going to respectfully hand him back to you.

睇完一個咁感人嘅場面，我見到都忍唔住喊。

tai2 jyun4 jat1 go3 gam3 gam2 jan4 ge3 coeng4 min6, ngo5 gin3 dou3 dou1 jan2 m4 zyu6 haam3.

After witnessing such a moving scene, I couldn’t help but cry.

佢哋兩兄弟真係好親，做乜嘢都會拍住上，你分唔開佢哋嘅。

keoi5 dei6 loeng5 hing1 dai6 zan1 hai6 hou2 can1, zou6 mat1 je5 dou1 wui5 paak3 zyu6 soeng5, nei5 fan1 m4 hoi1 keoi5 dei6 ge3.

The two brothers are really close, they practically do everything together, there’s no way you can separate them.

如果真係食唔曬咪唔好食囉，剩低啲餸可以留返聽日食。

jyu4 gwo2 zan1 hai6 sik6 m4 saai3 mai6 m4 hou2 sik6 lo1, zing6 dai1 di1 sung3 ho2 ji5 lau4 faan1 ting1 jat6 sik6.

If you can’t finish the food, just don’t eat it, we can always eat the leftovers tomorrow.

Comparison of can’s in Cantonese

Okay, moving on to one of the most important parts of the lesson, differentiating between the three types of can’s!

In Cantonese, these three words can simply translate back to English as “can”, but please don’t mix up the specific occasions they’re used for! They’re generally not interchangeable.

Hopefully with these three sentences, the differences will become clear.

The first “can” is 可以, and this “can” implies something to do permission.

我唔可以揸車

ngo5 m4 ho2 ji5 zaa1 ce1.

I’m not allowed to drive.

Here, maybe I can’t drive because I’m underage, or maybe I’m grounded, or maybe my license is suspended. Either way, I don’t have permission to do it.

A positive example with 可以.

我可以同佢講.

ngo5 ho2 ji5 tung4 keoi5 gong2.

I can tell him.

I can tell him could imply here a very generic, “yes, I don’t mind passing the message along to him”, but it can also mean “I have permission from the owner of the message to share this message with him”.

Next up, we have 識.

Out of the three, this should be the easiest to distinguish, because it simply means “to know how to”. For example,

我唔識揸車.

ngo5 m4 sik1 zaa1 ce1.

I don’t know how to drive.

Maybe I don’t know how to drive because because I haven’t learned yet, I don’t plan to learn, I don’t want to learn – in any case, I just can’t (don’t know how to) drive.

Last but not least, we have 到. This should be contrasted with the first “can”, 可以, because this shade of “can” implies you can or can’t do something due to some external set of reasons.

我揸唔到車

ngo5 zaa1 m4 dou2 ce1.

I can’t drive.

Maybe I can’t drive because I have a foot injury, I just had alcohol (drinking is bad guys!), maybe I just had my license suspended (yes, this can sometimes overlap with 可以!).

Hopefully, that makes the distinction a bit clearer when trying to go from English to Cantonese.

If in doubt, try to be a bit more precise in English before going back to Cantonese. Instead of saying “I can”, choose “I am able to”, “I know how to”, “I am permitted to”, so you can lock on to the specific translation in Cantonese.

Cantonese modal adverbs

Just as important as Cantonese modals are the adverbs that modify them commonly found with these modals.

So last but not least, before we finish this lesson, I would like to introduce a few more Cantonese adverbs that are related to modals that you will see and hear all the time.

This section will be an examples only section, because there’s really nothing more to explain other than to show you how these words are used in real life.

Enjoy the examples!

Cantonese modal adverb #1: 可能 (might)

公司可能下年會喺紐約上市，所以近排忙住做各方面嘅準備。

gung1 si1 ho2 nang4 haa6 nin2 wui5 hai2 nau2 joek3 soeng5 si5, so2 ji5 gan6 paai2 mong4 zyu6 zou6 gok3 fong1 min6 ge3 zeon2 bei6.

The firm might go public in New York next year, so we’ve been busy with all sorts of preparations recently.

上個禮拜佢話過今個禮拜可能會去日本旅行，估唔到佢真係去，今日帶咗個背囊就出門去機場。

soeng6 go3 lai5 baai3 keoi5 waa6 gwo3 gam1 go3 lai5 baai3 ho2 nang4 wui5 heoi3 jat6 bun2 leoi5 hang4, gu2 m4 dou3 keoi5 zan1 hai6 heoi3, gam1 jat6 daai3 zo2 go3 bui3 nong4 zau6 ceot1 mun4 heoi3 gei1 coeng4.

He said that he might go to Japan this week last week, and he really did – today, he packed a knapsack and headed to the airport.

Cantonese modal adverb #2: 或者 (might)

我哋或者會去豐澤睇電器，你有冇興趣一齊去？

ngo5 dei2 waak6 ze2 wui5 heoi3 fung1 zaak6 tai2 din6 hei3, nei5 jau5 mou5 hing3 ceoi3 jat1 cai4 heoi3?

We might go to Fortress to have a look at electronics later, you interested?

或者佢真係識講阿拉伯文，但係喺咁正式嘅場合我唔係太敢派一個非母語者上場。

waak6 ze2 keoi5 zan1 hai6 sik1 gong2 aa3 laai1 baak3 man4, daan6 hai6 hai2 gam3 zing3 sik1 ge3 coeng4 hap6 ngo5 m4 hai6 taai3 gam2 paai3 jat1 go3 fei1 mou5 jyu5 ze2 soeng5 coeng4.

Perhaps he can really speak Arabic, but in such a formal occasion, I dare not send a non-native to handle communications.

Cantonese modal adverb #3: 都唔定 (could)

你未試過你又點知鳳爪唔好食呢？或者真係好滋味都唔定呢。

nei5 mei6 si3 gwo3 nei5 jau6 dim2 zi1 fung6 zaau2 m4 hou2 sik6 ne1? waak6 ze2 zan1 hai6 hou2 zi1 mei6 dou1 m4 ding6 ne1.

How would you know if the chicken feet are bad if you haven’t tried them before? Maybe they’re really good.

佢最后一分鐘 join 我哋都唔定，睇情況啦，如果佢真係唔得嘅話咪下次囉。

keoi5 zeoi3 hau6 jat1 fan1 zung1  join  ngo5 dei6 dou1 m4 ding6, tai2 cing4 fong3 laa1, jyu4 gwo2 keoi5 zan1 hai6 m4 dak1 ge3 waa6 mai6 haa6 ci3 lo1.

It’s entirely possible that he’ll join us the last minute, it depends on the situation, and if he really can’t come, we can do it again next time.

Cantonese modal adverb #4: 多數 (for the most part)

我就覺得奇怪喇，因為佢大多數放學都會去圖書館或者返屋企，所以今日兩邊都搵唔到佢我有少少擔心。

ngo5 zau6 gok3 dak1 kei4 gwaai3 laak3, jan1 wai6 keoi5 daai6 do1 sou3 fong3 hok6 dou1 wui5 heoi3 tou4 syu1 gun2 waak6 ze2 faan1 nguk1 kei2, so2 ji5 gam1 jat6 loeng5 bin1 dou1 wan2 m4 dou2 keoi5 ngo5 jau5 siu2 siu2 daam1 sam1.

I thought it was strange, since he usually goes to the library or straight home after school, so when I couldn’t find him in either place today, I got a little worried.

其實我哋平時都多數會喺油尖旺嗰頭蒲，所以你下次得閒咪過嚟一齊囉。

kei4 sat6 ngo5 dei6 ping4 si4 dou1 do1 sou3 wui5 hai2 jau4 zim1 wong6 go2 tau4 pou4, so2 ji5 nei5 haa6 ci3 dak1 haan4 mai6 gwo3 lai4 jat1 cai4 lo1.

We usually hang out in Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui or Mongkok, so if you’re around next time, feel free to join us.

Cantonese modal adverb #5: 實會 (definitely)

佢講起嗰段回憶實會咸起嚟，咁所以我勸你都係唔好提嗰件事。

keoi5 gong2 hei2 go2 dyun6 wui4 jik1 sat6 wui5 haam3 hei2 lai4, gam2 so2 ji5 ngo5 hyun3 nei5 dou1 hai6 m4 hou2 tai4 go2 gin6 si6.

Everytime she talks about this memory, she’ll cry, so I suggest that you don’t bring it up at all.

佢每次同黑人講嘢嗰陣實會喵嘴喵舌，好似覺得自己白人所以高人一等，陣係乞人憎。

keoi5 mui5 ci3 tung4 hak1 jan4 gong2 je5 go2 zan6 sat6 wui5 miu2 zeoi2 miu2 sit6, hou2 ci5 gok3 dak1 zi6 gei2 baak6 jan4 so2 ji5 gou1 jan4 jat1 dang2, zan6 hai6 hat1 jan4 zang1.

Every time he speaks with a black person he’ll appear condescending, as if being white makes him superior to others, quite frankly it’s disgusting.

Cantonese modal adverb #6: 一定要 (must)

你記住記住出門之前一定要 check 清楚你有冇閂曬啲煤氣同埋其他電源，如果唔係出門嗰陣出咗意外嘅話就真係後悔莫及。

nei5 gei3 zyu6 gei3 zyu6 ceot1 mun4 zi1 cin4 jat1 ding6 jiu3  check  cing1 co2 nei5 jau5 mou5 saan1 saai3 di1 mui4 hei3 tung4 maai4 kei4 taa1 din6 jyun4, jyu4 gwo2 m4 hai6 ceot1 mun4 go2 zan6 ceot1 zo2 ji3 ngoi6 ge3 waa6 zau6 zan1 hai6 hau6 fui3 mok6 kap6.

Remember to check whether the gas and other power sources are all turned off properly before heading out, you’ll regret it if there are any accidents.

人哋送嘢畀你一定要講聲「多謝」或者「thank you」，呢啲係做人嘅基本禮儀。

jan4 dei6 sung3 je5 bei2 nei5 jat1 ding6 jiu3 gong2 seng1 「 do1 ze6 」 waak6 ze2 「 thank  you 」, ne1 di1 hai6 zou6 jan4 ge3 gei1 bun2 lai5 ji4.

When someone gives you a present, you must say thanks in return, this is basic etiquette as a human being.

Cantonese modal adverb #7: 一定係、肯定係 (must be)

唔使講，一定係佢偷咗嗰疊錢，唔見咗啲錢嗰段時間只係得佢唔知去咗邊度。

m4 sai2 gong2, jat1 ding6 hai6 keoi5 tau1 zo2 go2 daap6 cin2, m4 gin3 zo2 di1 cin2 go2 dyun6 si4 gaan3 zi2 hai6 dak1 keoi5 m4 zi1 heoi3 zo2 bin1 dou6.

There’s no need to investigate further, it must’ve been him who stole the money, during the period of time when the money was missing, only his whereabouts were unaccounted for.

我頭先見到嗰個人百分之百肯定係周潤發，估唔到原來國際巨星都會搭地鐵！

ngo5 tau4 sin1 gin3 2go2 go3 jan4 baak3 fan1 zi1 baak3 hang2 ding6 hai6 zau1 jeon6 faat3, gu2 m4 dou3 jyun4 loi4 gwok3 zai3 geoi6 sing1 dou1 wui5 daap3 dei6 tit3！

I’m pretty sure the person I just saw was Chow Yuen Fat, so even international superstars travel by metro!

Cantonese modal adverb #8: 絕對 (definitely)

我絕對唔會容許你繼續放肆落去，我最後警告你一次，如果你繼續無理取鬧，我會報警。

ngo5 zyut6 deoi3 m4 wui5 jung4 heoi2 nei5 gai3 zuk6 fong3 si3 lok6 heoi3, ngo5 zeoi3 hau6 ging2 gou3 nei5 jat1 ci3, jyu4 gwo2 nei5 gai3 zuk6 mou4 lei5 ceoi2 naau6, ngo5 wui5 bou3 ging2.

I won’t tolerate this wantonness anymore, this is my last warning, if you’re going to cause trouble for everyone else, I will call the cops.

呢個絕對係港產嘅魚蛋，個口感特別煙韌彈牙！

ne1 go3 zyut6 deoi3 hai6 gong2 caan2 ge3 jyu4 daan2, go3 hau2 gam2 dak6 bit6 jin1 ngan6 daan6 ngaa4!

This is definitely Hong Kong produced fish balls, the texture is very bouncy and soft!

Cantonese modal adverb #9: 未必 (not necessarily)

佢未必係罪魁禍首，唔好咁快將佢定罪。

keoi5 mei6 bit1 hai6 zeoi6 fui1 wo6 sau2, m4 hou2 gam3 faai3 zoeng1 keoi5 ding6 zeoi6.

He might not be the perpetrator, don’t be so quick to pass judgment on him.

頭先嗰個人撞到你未必係有心嘅，唔好咁上心啦！

tau4 sin1 go2 go3 jan4 zong6 dou2 nei5 mei6 bit1 hai6 jau5 sam1 ge3, m4 hou2 gam3 soeng5 sam1 laa1!

The person who just bumped into you might not have done so deliberately, don’t let it get to you!

Conclusion

So let’s do a quick recap of what we discussed today. In the first section, we talked about what modals are grammatically (fancy way of “a bunch of really useful words to express different moods”); in the second section, we introduced a bunch of commonly found Cantonese modals with tons of examples to boot (as usual!); we then looked at a special case of negating Cantonese modals, as well as how to differentiate the three “can’s”, and last of all, we finished with a section introducing more Cantonese adverbs commonly seen with modals.

At this point, I hope you’ll go through each sample sentence and see how the key structure / word is used in the sentence. There may be a few things we haven’t covered yet, but I daresay with the help of English translations, you’re smart enough to figure them out. 🙂

To top that off, I really hope you’ll start to write sample sentences on your own. You don’t have to post them, or even write them down if you’re pressed for time (but it’s obviously best if you do that) – using a word reinforces it on a level that glossing over it just can’t match.

Last but not least, as usual, if you have any questions about these patterns, or sentences, I hope you’ll leave a comment in the below section, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

I hope you enjoyed this presentation!

Before we finish, I have an exciting announcement to make.

A few days ago, I’ve finalized the complete curriculum for the Cantonese grammar series here at Cantolounge. The total number of lessons will add up to 25, I believe, so we’re safely halfway through the middle mark!

And yes, it’s entirely possible to introduce all the main grammatical points in just 25 lessons, it’s amazing how simple Chinese grammar is.

As a quick preview, next lesson will be extremely important, so I highly urge you to be on the lookout for it when it comes out. And as a special treat, lesson #25, the final lesson, will be very, very special, and I think this is something that a lot of readers will come to appreciate having because of its practical value.

Feel free to comment on what it could be about…I have a feeling that no one will get it. 😉

In any case, I look forward to completing this journey with you, let’s all give it our best!

Talk soon!

Continue reading

Lesson 12: Comparisons in Cantonese

Lesson 14: Cantonese conjunctions