Grammar 03 - This, That, These, Those in Cantonese - Demonstratives 呢(nei1) & 嗰(go2)

In Cantonese, demonstratives are key to pinpointing objects based on their proximity, and are used with classifiers to articulate precise meanings. This article delves into how these elements interact, covering both singular and plural forms.
Grammar03 Cantonese Demonstratives 呢(nei1) 嗰(go2)

Table of Content

#   Cantonese Demonstrative Determiners
=   Singular Demonstrative Determiners
=   Plural Demonstrative Determiners
#   Cantonese Demonstrative Pronoun
=   Singular Demonstrative Pronouns
=   Plural Demonstrative Pronouns

Similar to English, Cantonese has a distinction between near (proximal) and far (distal) demonstratives, namely 呢() for proximal and 嗰() for distal. (嗰 is usually pronounced as in Macau.)

Demonstratives are typically used with classifiers (量詞), which are a significant aspect of Cantonese (and other Eastern languages like other Chinese languages, Japanese, and Korean).

Unlike in English, where classifiers are only used with certain nouns or when quantity needs to be specified, Cantonese uses classifiers before most nouns. We will discuss classifiers further in future lessons.

Cantonese Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative determiners are followed by nouns. Like in English, where you put a noun after This and That.

Singular Demonstrative Determiners

【Demonstrative - Classifier - Noun】

呢()／嗰() - cl. - n. ~
This/That - (cl.) - n. ~

  1. 呢()本()書()係()我()嘅()
    This book is mine.

  2. 嗰()架()車()係()黑()色()嘅()
    That car is black in color.

Plural Demonstrative Determiners

Ⓐ【Demonstrative - 啲 - Noun】OR
Ⓑ【Demonstrative - Classifier for plural/uncountable nouns - Noun】

Ⓐ 呢()／嗰() - 啲() - n. ~

Ⓑ 呢()／嗰() - plu. cl. - n. ~

These/Those - (cl.) - n. ~

  1. 呢()啲()書()係()我()嘅()
    OR
    呢()沓()書()係()我()嘅()
    These books are mine.
    沓 - stack (can only be used if books are in a stack)

  2. 嗰()啲()石()頭()係()藍()色()嘅()
    OR
    嗰()堆()石()頭()係()藍()色()嘅()
    Those stones are blue in color.
    堆 - pile (can only be used if stones are in a pile)

Cantonese Demonstrative Pronoun

Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns. Note that even if demonstrative pronouns are not directly followed by a noun, the classifier should always correspond or match with the noun in the following phrase and must not be omitted.

For example, in 呢本係字典(This is a dictionary), 本 must be used because 字典 (dictionary) is a book, which usually follows the classifier 本. It would be wrong to say 呢係字典 (lit. This is dictionary) or 呢條係字典 (wrong classifier for dictionary).

Singular Demonstrative Pronouns

【Demonstrative - Classifier】

呢()／嗰() - cl. ~
This/That - (cl.) ~

  1. 呢()本()係()字()典()
    This is a dictionary.

  2. 嗰()個()係()Mary
    That is Mary.

Plural Demonstrative Pronouns

Ⓐ【Demonstrative - 啲】OR
Ⓑ【Demonstrative - Classifier for plural/uncountable nouns】

Ⓐ 呢()／嗰() - 啲() ~

Ⓑ 呢()／嗰() - plu. cl. ~

These/Those - (cl.) ~

  1. 呢()啲()係()螞()蟻()
    OR
    呢()群()係()螞()蟻()
    These are ants.
    群 - group/crowd (can only be used if ants are in a group)

  2. 嗰()啲()係()我()嘅()衫()
    OR
    嗰()堆()係()我()嘅()衫()
    These are my clothes.
    堆 - pile (can only be used if clothes are in a pile)

This structure of 【Demonstrative-Classifier-Noun】pattern also applies to Possessive Determiners. Learn more about Possessive Determiners in Grammar04 - Possessive Determiners