Chapter 13 of 16 · Explore the Cantonese path
Optional reference · Chapter 13 of 16
Look up a verb shape that stops you
Open this when a verb shape blocks a line. It has can, will, must and want, the way comparisons are made, and ten more everyday actions the closing stories never use.
≈ 3 min of reading · Practise at your own pace
What’s in this chapter
- Open this when a verb shape blocks a line; neither closing reading needs any of it.
- 可以
ho2 ji5 is “may”, 識 sik1 is “know how to”, 會 wui5 is “will”. - “Must” is 要
jiu3, which also means “want” — the sentence decides which. - Comparing uses 過
gwo3 after the describing word: “big-pass you”. - A verb doubled with 吓
haa5 means doing it briefly: have a quick look.
Neither closing reading uses anything in this section. Open it when a shape you cannot place blocks a line, and leave it shut otherwise. These are things to recognise later, not homework now.
Can, will, must, want
These sit in front of another verb and say whether the action is allowed, likely, needed or wanted. Read the example to see which shade a sentence has picked.
| Cantonese | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 可以 | may, is allowed to | 你可以嚟 |
| 識 | knows how to | 佢識游水 |
| 會 | will; is likely to | 佢會嚟 |
| 要 | must; want | 我要水 |
| 想 | would like to | 我想食嘢 |
English packs all of these into “can” and “will”. Cantonese keeps them apart, and which one a sentence uses is often the whole point of the sentence.
Say bigger, best, or a quick look
Cantonese adds a small word to a word you already know rather than changing its shape. Follow each plain word across to the longer phrase.
More everyday doing words
Ten common actions the closing stories do not use. Look up the English and take the character across.
| English | Cantonese |
|---|---|
| sit | 坐 |
| stand | 企 |
| sleep | 瞓 |
| laugh, smile | 笑 |
| cry | 喊 |
| help | 幫 |
| do, make | 做 |
| return, go back | 返 |
| buy | 買 |
| sell | 賣 |
企