Grammar 15 - Cantonese Verb Completion Marker - 完(jyun4)

In Cantonese, the marker 完 (jyun4) is used after verbs to indicate that an action is complete, similar to its usage in Mandarin. Whether for present, past, or future actions, 完 (jyun4) is key to expressing completion. This passage explores its usage, including how to form related questions and statements.
cantonese-verb-completion-marker-jyun4

Table of Content

#   Question
#   Single-Character Verb
=   Transitive Verb
=   Verbs with Complementing Noun
#   Double-Character Verbs
=   Separable Verbs
=   Non-separable Verbs

In Cantonese, the marker 完 is used after a verb to indicate the completion of an action. Similarly, in Mandarin, 完 also signals that an action has been completed. It literally means "finished" and is often translated that way. This marker can apply to actions in the present, past, or future, with the context and supporting words determining the time frame.

完 can sometimes be interchangeable with 埋 or 晒, which also function as completion markers. We'll explain the nuances in future lessons.

Question

①【Subject - verb - 完() - (obj./n.) - 未() - 呀()】? (to ask)

②【Subject - 係()唔()係() - verb - 完() - (obj./n.) - 啦()】? (to confirm)

Refer to Grammar01 - 係(hai6) for the meaning of 係唔係

Structure ① is a general way of asking someone if an action is completed, while Structure ② is typically used when you want to confirm that the action is indeed completed.

  1. ① 你()做()完()功()課()未()呀()？

    ② 你()係()唔()係()做()完()功()課()啦()？

    Have you finished (doing) your homework yet?

  2. ① 你()用()完()廁()所()未()呀()？

    ② 你()係()唔()係()用()完()廁()所()啦()？

    Are you done using the bathroom?
    (lit. Have you finished using the bathroom yet?)

  3. ① 你()食()完()飯()未()呀()？

    ② 你()係()唔()係()食()完()飯()啦()？

    Are you done with your meal?
    (lit. Have you finished eating yet?)

  4. ① 你()考()慮()完()未()呀()？

    ② 你()係()唔()係()考()慮()完()啦()？

    Have you made up your mind yet?
    (lit. Have you finished considering it yet?)

Single-Character Verb

Transitive Verb

(+ve)【Subject - verb - 完() - Object】

(-ve)【Subject - 未() - verb - 完() - Object】

  1. 做()完()功()課()先()可()以()打()機()
    Finish your homework, only then you can play video games .
    (lit. Finish doing your homework…)

    你()未()做()完()功()課()，所()以()唔()可()以()打()機()
    You have not finished your homework, so you cannot play video games.
    (lit. You have not finished doing homework ...)

  2. 我()睇()完()呢()本()書()啦()
    I have finished reading this book.

    我()未()睇()完()呢()本()書()呀()
    I have not finished reading this book.

    (睇 - to see. It conveys the meaning of "to read" only when there's a direct object, which is a publications or reading materials. )

Verbs with Complementing Noun

(+ve)【Subject - verb - 完() - complementing noun】

(-ve)【Subject - 未() - verb - 完() - complementing noun】

Refer to Grammar08 - Cantonese Verbs for more about complementing noun.

  1. (Present Perfect)

    我()食()完()飯()啦()
    I’m done.
    (lit. I've finished eating.)

    我()未()食()完()飯()呀()
    I have not finished (eating).

  2. (Future Perfect)
    我()差()唔()多()去()食()飯()，我()食()完()飯()再()搵()你()啦()
    I'm about to go eat. I'll get back to you after I'm done.
    (lit. ..., will find you again (after) I finished eating )

  3. (Past Perfect)
    我()尋()晚()食()完()飯()之()後()去()咗()跑()步()
    Last night, I went for a run after dinner.
    (lit. Last night, I went for a run after I had finished eating.)

Double-Character Verbs

You may refer to Grammar08 - Cantonese Verbs for more about the definition of double-character verbs, separable verbs and non-separable verbs.

【Subject - [Separable Double-Character Verb] 】

Separable Double-Character Verb usually has a [Verb-Noun] structure

(+ve)【Subject - [Verb - 完() - Noun]】

(-ve)【Subject - 未() - [Verb - 完() - Noun]】

Separable Verbs

  1. 我()沖()完()涼()啦()，到()你()沖()啦()
    I’m done with my shower. It’s your turn now.
    (lit. I have finished taking shower, ...)

    我()未()沖()完()涼()呀()，唔()好()入()嚟()住()
    I’m not done with my shower. Don't come in yet.
    (lit. I have not finished taking shower, ...)

Non-separable Verbs

(+ve)【Subject - [Non-separable Double-Character Verb] - 完() 】

(-ve)【Subject - 未() - [Non-separable Double-Character Verb] - 完() 】

  1. 我()考()慮()完()再()搵()你()啦()
    I'll get back to you after I have made up my mind.
    (lit. I will find you again (when) I finished considering.)