Function Words
/bei/ |
compared to |
比 |
/hou/ /chih/ |
like |
好似 |
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/bei/ gaau |
comparatively |
比較 |
gau |
enough |
夠 |
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/yauh/ |
to have |
有 |
/gam/ |
so |
咁 |
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/mouh/ |
to not have |
冇 |
jeui |
the most |
最 |
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-di- |
more |
D |
gwo |
more than |
過 |
Adjectives
faai |
fast |
快 |
daaih |
large |
大 |
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maahn |
slow |
慢 |
sai |
small |
細 |
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\gou\ |
tall |
高 |
\do\ |
many |
多 |
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/ngai/ |
short |
矮 |
/siu/ |
few |
少 |
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\feih\ |
fat |
肥 |
/chuhng/ |
heavy |
重 |
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sau |
skinny |
瘦 |
\heng\ |
light |
輕 |
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Cantonese Skills Lesson 8
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Note that gwo often means "to pass through". In the case of comparisons, it can be seen as meaning "to surpass" or "go beyond".
Using 有/冇+咁
This form is used to either compare or contrast two items, depending on the choice of /yauh/ or /mouh/. If the positive /yauh/ is used, then the form is used to be comparative, while the opposite is true of /mouh/. The equivalent form in written Chinese is 有/沒有 + 那麼.
This form evaluates one object for a quality in terms of that quality in another object. The pattern is:
A /yauh/ B /gam/ ADJ
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OR |
A /mouh/ B /gam/ ADJ
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There are several ways of comparing and contrasting things in Cantonese. This is often done using pairs of opposite descriptors, such as fast and slow, and by comparing two objects in terms of a quality. Below are some of the most common ways to compare two things in Cantonese. You may wish to spend some time on this lesson. Comparing/Contrasting Two ObjectsUsing 比This form is used commonly in both written Chinese and oral Cantonese. It has the advantage of transferring to other dialects, unlike most of the other ways of creating a comparison. The pattern is: A /bei/ B ADJ
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/yauh/ used in comparison means that the one object has at least enough of a quality to be equal to another object in that quality. The object in question may be greater, but it is at least sufficient. /mouh/ used in comparison means that one object lacks sufficient amounts of a quality to be equal to another object in that quality. /gam/ functions like "as" in these patterns, though it usually means "so" or "that much" Using 唔狗This form is used in the same way as /mouh/ /gam/ is used. It evaluates one object for a quality by stating that it does not possess as much of that quality as a second object. The form is: A \mh\ gau B ADJ
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A /hou/ /chih/ B
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OR |
A /hou/ /chih/ B /gam/ ADJ
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Relative Comparisons
Using 比較
This form, like /bei/ alone, is used commonly in both written Chinese and oral Cantonese. It has the advantage of transferring to other dialects, unlike most of the other ways of creating a comparison. Comparisons using /bei/ gaau are more general comparisons and do not need a second object to compare with. The pattern is:
A /bei/ gaau ADJ
A is relatively ADJ.
/bei/ gaau is often translated as "comparatively", but the English word requires a standard of comparison that is not needed in the Chinese. The English word "relatively" gives the same feel as and generality /bei/ gaau.
Using "D"
-di-, sometimes written 啲, is similar to gwo. It follows the adjective (functive verb) although it doesn't actually change the adjective itself. -di- is used like an "-er" suffix, but does not compare directly to another object. However, the objects need to be understood from previous context.
A ADJ -di-
A is ADJer.
Note that -di- is the plural measure word. But when applied to an adjective, it means "more".
Superlative
The superlative is made in Cantonese by simply adding the character jeui 最 in front of the adjective. As in English, you do not combine comparative and superlative forms. The form is:
jeui ADJ
most ADJ/ADJest