Grammar 14 - Cantonese Verb Habitual Marker - 開(hoi1)

In Cantonese, the habitual aspect marker 開 (hoi1) expresses ongoing actions or habits, similar to "usually" or "regularly" in English. It's comparable to Mandarin adverbs like 通常 or 一般. While 開 (hoi1) and 慣 (gwaan3) can both indicate habits, 慣 (gwaan3) may imply reluctance to change. The following examples illustrate how 開 (hoi1) is used in context and how it contrasts with 慣 (gwaan3).
cantonese-verb-habitual-marker-hoi1

Table of Content

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

The habitual aspect marker 開() in Cantonese expresses a habit that has continued up to the present. In English, we usually use "usually", "regularly" or "used to." The Mandarin equivalent would be time adverbs like 通常 or 一般. Revise where an aspect marker should be placed in Grammar09 - Verbs Continuous Marker 緊(gan2).

Single-Character Verb

Transitive Verb

【Subject - Verb - 開() - Object】

  1. 我()睇()開()呢()個()醫()生()，佢()好()細()心()
    I usually go to this doctor, s/he is very attentive.
    (lit. I usually see this doctor, ...)

  2. 我()飲()開()嗰()款()咖()啡()，但()佢()已()經()賣()哂()啦()
    I usually drink that coffee, but it's already sold out.

  3. 我()用()開() Android 機()，用()唔()慣() iPhone
    I'm used to using Android phones, and I find iPhones hard to get used to.

  4. 我()食()開()/去()開()嗰()間()茶()餐()廳()，但()佢()今()日()唔()開()
    I usually go to/eat at that cha chaan teng, but it’s closed today.

Verbs with Complementing Noun

【Subject - Verb - 開() - Noun】

You may refer to Grammar08 - Cantonese Verbs for more about verbs with complementing nouns.

  1. 佢()跑()開()步()，所()以()好()夠()氣()
    S/He runs regularly, so s/he has good endurance for high-intensity aerobic sports.
    (唔夠氣 - not enough breath, out of breath. 好夠氣 is the opposite of 唔夠氣)

  2. 佢(; )瞓()開()晏()覺()，但()今()日()冇()得()瞓()所()以()好()攰()
    S/He's used to taking naps in the afternoon, but today s/he couldn't, so s/he's very tired.
    (lit. S/He is used to sleeping afternoon naps, ...)

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.

Separable Verbs

【Subject - [Separable Double-Character Verb] 】

【Subject - [Verb - 開() - Noun]】

  1. 佢()做()開() gym，所()以()好()大()隻()
    S/He works out at the gym regularly, so s/he's very muscular.
    (做gym - to work out at gym ｜ 做 - to do)

Non-separable Verbs

【Subject - [Non-separable Double-Character Verb] - 開() 】

  1. 佢()研()究()開()社()會()議()題()，出()過()幾()篇()論()文()
    S/He has been doing research on social issues and has published several papers.

The aspect marker 開() is sometimes interchangeable with 慣(), which literally means "habit" (習慣) or "used to." While 開 tends to sound more neutral, 慣 can sometimes convey a negative meaning or emphasize an unwillingness to change. We'll explain the nuances between them in future lessons.