Pronouns, possessives & unit classifiers

I - 我[ngo5]

We/ us -我[ngo5]哋[dei6]

You - 你[nei5]

All of you - 你[nei5]哋[dei6]

He/ him - 佢[keui5]

She/ her - 佢[keui5]

It - 佢[keui5]

They/ them 佢[keui5]哋[dei6]

Possessives

​

My/ Mine - 我[ngo5]嘅[ge3]

Our/ ours - 我[ngo5]哋[dei6]嘅[ge3]

Your(s) - 你[nei5]嘅[ge3]

All of you’s - 你[nei5]哋[dei6]嘅[ge3]

His - 佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]

Her(s) - 佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]

Its - 佢[keui5]嘅[ge3]

Their(s) - 佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嘅[ge3]

Unit Classifiers

- Cantonese unit classifiers can be understood just like the unit classifiers for English uncountable nouns but for all nouns. - A piece of paper - 一[yat1]張[jeung1]紙[ji2] - A cup of water - 一[yat1]杯[bui1]水[seui2]

- Cantonese nouns are not specified to singular or plural, you have to add in numbers and unit classifiers to determine the quantity you are talking about

Different categories:

1. Individual classifiers measuring just several objects or animated objects

- A person - 一[yat1]個[go3]人[yan4]

- Two apples - 兩[leung5]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]

- Three dogs - 三[saam1]隻[jek3]狗[gau2]

2. A pair or group of items or animated or non animated objects

- A pair of earrings - 一[yat1]對[deui3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

- a group of students - 一[yat1]班[baan1]學[hok6]生[saang1]

3. Uncountable for unfixed amounts

- 啲[di1] - some/ the article the

4. Classifiers for measuring time & distance

- One meter - 一[yat1]米[mai5]

- One minute - 一[yat1]分[fan1]鐘[jung1]

5. Classifiers for motions/ actions

- Play once - 玩[waan2/wun6]一[yat1]次[chi3]

- Do once - 做[jou6]一[yat1]下[ha5]

Individual Classifiers

The most common one you will see is 個[go3].

個[go3] can be seen as the all embracing unit classifier. You can basically pair 個[go3] with any object, it is not wrong entirely. Most of the objects or items can be paired with the classifier 個[go3].

- 一[yat1]個[go3]人[yan4] - a person

- 兩[leung5]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2] - two apples

- 一[yat1]個[go3]國[gwok3]家[ga1] a country

However, there are some objects that come with specific classifiers, for example

- 一[yat1]個[go3]學[hok6]校[haau6] - a school

the proper unit classifier is

一[yat1]間[gaan1]學[hok6]校[haau6] - a school

although if you were to say 一[yat1]個[go3]學[hok6]校[haau6] a school, it is not wrong. Something goes with for example

一[yat1]個[go3]電[din6]視[si6] - a TV

The proper unit classifier is

一[yat1]部[bou6]電[din6]視[si6] - a TV

although if you were to say 一[yat1]個[go3]電[din6]視[si6] it isn’t wrong either.

Therefore 個[go3] (Dummy PY: Gor) can be seen as the all embracing unit classifier. If you have to say it in a possessive form, for example,

我[ngo5]個[go3]電[din6]視[si6] - my TV

omitting the number 1 because it is implied

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]個[go3]電[din6]視[si6] - my tv

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]個[go3]電[din6]視[si6] my one tv

your country

你[nei5]個[go3]國[gwok3]家[ga1]

or

你[nei5]嗰[go2]個[go3]國[gwok3]家[ga1]

or

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]個[go3]國[gwok3]家[ga1]

but for more than 1 item, when you still want to include the quantity like his or her 2 apples, you will have to say,

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]兩[leung5]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]

number is between the 2 gors, just like when you will say his one apple,

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]個[go3]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]

For describing small little things, classifier = 粒[lap1]

for example,

one single grain of rice

一[yat1]粒[lap1]米[mai5]

a bean

一[yat1]粒[lap1]豆[dau6]

a single grape

一[yat1]粒[lap1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

In possessive form you can say

our single grain of rice

我[ngo5]哋[dei6]粒[lap1]米[mai5]

or

我[ngo5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]粒[lap1]米[mai5]

or

我[ngo5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]粒[lap1]米[mai5]

you guys’ bean

你[nei5]哋[dei6]粒[lap1]豆[dau6]

or

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]粒[lap1]豆[dau6]

or

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]粒[lap1]豆[dau6]

their one grape.

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]粒[lap1]提[tai4]子[ji2]or

or

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]粒[lap1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

or

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]粒[lap1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

If you want to say a whole bunch of grapes, items where you will need to grip onto something to carry the item, classifier = 揪[jau1]

A bunch of grapes

一[yat1]揪[jau1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

For possessives,

my bunch of grapes

我[ngo5]揪[jau1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]揪[jau1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]揪[jau1]提[tai4]子[ji2]

Long rod-like, stick-like objects, usually hard in texture, the unit classifier = 枝[ji1]

For example,

a pen

一[yat1]枝[ji1]筆[bat1]

your pen

你[nei5]枝[ji1]筆[bat1]

or

你[nei5]嗰[go2]枝[ji1]筆[bat1]

or

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]枝[ji1]筆[bat1]

a flower

一[yat1]枝[ji1]花[fa1]

his/her flower

佢[keui5]枝[ji1]花[fa1]

or

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]枝[ji1]花[fa1]

or

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]枝[ji1]花[fa1]

three tree branches or twigs

三[saam1]枝[ji1]樹[syu6]枝[ji1]

three branches of ours,

我[ngo5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]三[saam1]枝[ji1]樹[syu6]枝[ji1]

Long string or stick like object, classifier = 條[tiu4]

for example,

a single strand of hair

一[yat1]條[tiu4]頭[tau4]髮[faat3]

My single strand of hair

我[ngo5]條[tiu4]頭[tau4]髮[faat3]

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]條[tiu4]頭[tau4]髮[faat3]

or

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]條[tiu4]頭[tau4]髮[faat3]

a rope

一[yat1]條[tiu4]繩[sing4/sing2]

Your (plural, more than one) rope,

你[nei5]哋[dei6]條[tiu4]繩[sing4/sing2],

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]條[tiu4]繩[sing4/sing2],

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]條[tiu4]繩[sing4/sing2].

4 bananas.

四[sei3]條[tiu4]香[heung1]蕉[jiu1]/ 四[sei3]條[tiu4]蕉[jiu1]

*With 香[heung1]蕉[jiu1]/ 蕉[jiu1] - banana, you can also choose to use the unit classifier 隻[jek3]

Their 4 bananas,

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]四[sei3]條[tiu4]蕉[jiu1].

For pants, dresses, you will also use 條[tiu4] as classifier because they are also long, for example

a pair of pants or trousers

一[yat1]條[tiu4]褲[fu3]

His or her pants or trousers,

佢[keui5]條[tiu4]褲[fu3],

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]條[tiu4]褲[fu3],

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]條[tiu4]褲[fu3].

a pair of jeans

一[yat1]條[tiu4]牛[ngau4]仔[jai2]褲[fu3]

牛[ngau4]仔[jai2] literally means cowboy, so jeans in Cantonese is cowboy pants.

My pair of jeans,

我[ngo5]條[tiu4]牛[ngau4]仔[jai2]褲[fu3],

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]條[tiu4]牛[ngau4]仔[jai2]褲[fu3],

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]條[tiu4]牛[ngau4]仔[jai2]褲[fu3]. .

a dress

一[yat1]條[tiu4]裙[kwan4]

your dress,

你[nei5]條[tiu4]裙[kwan4],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]條[tiu4]裙[kwan4],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]條[tiu4]裙[kwan4]

For animals, living organisms, as well as distinguishing the singular from a pair or multiple, classifier = 隻[jek3]

For animals for example,

three dogs

三[saam1]隻[jek3]狗[gau2]

My 3 dogs

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]三[saam1]隻[jek3]狗[gau2]

a chicken

一[yat1]隻[jek3]雞[gai1]

Your chicken,

你[nei5]隻[jek3]雞[gai1],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]隻[jek3]雞[gai1],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]隻[jek3]雞[gai1].

Or for living organisms, such as fruits, although when we get the fruit in groceries stores they are usually non-living, but they were living at one point,

for example

a banana

一[yat1]隻[jek3]香[heung1]蕉[jiu1]/ 一[yat1]隻[jek3]蕉[jiu1]

His or her banana,

佢[keui5]隻[jek3]香[heung1]蕉[jiu1],

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]隻[jek3]香[heung1]蕉[jiu1],

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]隻[jek3]香[heung1]蕉[jiu1].

When you want to just point to a single one of the item out of a pair or a multiple, you can use 隻[jek3]as well.

For example,

one single earring

一[yat1]隻[jek3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

his/ her one earring

佢[keui5]隻[jek3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]隻[jek3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

佢[keui5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]隻[jek3]耳[yi5]環[waan2].

One shoe,

一[yat1]隻[jek3]鞋[haai4]

your shoe,

你[nei5]隻[jek3]鞋[haai4],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]隻[jek3]鞋[haai4],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]隻[jek3]鞋[haai4] .

one single chopstick

一[yat1]隻[jek3]筷[faai3]子[ji2] .

Their one chopstick

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]隻[jek3]筷[faai3]子[ji2]

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]隻[jek3]筷[faai3]子[ji2]

佢[keui5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]隻[jek3]筷[faai3]子[ji2]

For vegetables or plants or flowers, classifier = 棵[(Dummy PY: Paul)

for example

a plant with flowers,

一[yat1]棵[fo2]花[fa1],

one bunch of vegetables.

一[yat1]棵[fo2]菜[choi3],

a bunch of grass.

一[yat1]棵[fo2]草[chou2]

For sheet-like, like a piece of paper, or like bedsheets, even the bed, classifier = 張[jeung1].

For example,

a piece of paper

一[yat1]張[jeung1]紙[ji2]

Give me a piece of paper,

比[bei2]張[jeung1]紙[ji2]我[ngo5],

比[bei2]一[yat1]張[jeung1]紙[ji2]我[ngo5].

a bed

一[yat1]張[jeung1]床[chong4]

you guys’ bed

你[nei5]哋[dei6]張[jeung1]床[chong4],

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]張[jeung1]床[chong4],

你[nei5]哋[dei6]嗰[go2]一[yat1]張[jeung1]床[chong4].

one bedsheet

一[yat1]張[jeung1]床[chong4]單[daan1] .

Your bedsheet

你[nei5]張[jeung1]床[chong4]單[daan1],

你[nei5]嗰[go2]張[jeung1]床[chong4]單[daan1]

你[nei5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]張[jeung1]床[chong4]單[daan1].

For sheet-like, wide in size, flat, but more rigid in texture, like a piece of land, or a piece of carpet, or a piece of pork chop, classifier = 塊[faai3],

for example,

a piece of land

一[yat1]塊[faai3]地[dei6]

a piece of carpet or floor mat

一[yat1]塊[faai3]地[dei6]氊[jin1]

a piece of pork chop

一[yat1]塊[faai3]豬[jyu1]扒[pa2]

A slice of bread,

一[yat1]塊[faai3]麵[min6]包[baau1]

For houses, rooms or structures, classifier = 間[gaan1]

For example

A school

一[yat1]間[gaan1]學[hok6]校[haau6]

**the proper unit classifier is 一[yat1]間[gaan1]學[hok6]校[haau6], although if you were to say 一[yat1]個[go3]學[hok6]校[haau6] (Dummy PY: Yat Gor Hawk How) a school, it is not wrong.

A house

一[yat1]間[gaan1]屋[uk1]

A room

一[yat1]間[gaan1]房[fong4/fong2]

For tall buildings, the classifier = 棟[dung6],

棟[dung6] is for objects that are pillar like

For example

A building

一[yat1]棟[dung6]大[daai6]廈[ha6]

An office building

一[yat1]棟[dung6]辦[baan6]公[gung1]室[sat1]大[daai6]樓[lau1]

Sometimes people say 等[dang2] instead of 棟[dung6] but it still means the same thing.

For doors specifically, classifier = 度[dou6]

a door

一[yat1]度[dou6]門[mun4]

For lights specifically, classifier = 盞[jaan2]

a light or a lamp

一[yat1]盞[jaan2]燈[dang1]

For vehicles & machineries, classifier = 部[bou6]/ 架[ga3]

For example ,

a car

一[yat1]部[bou6]車[che1]

*Note that for machineries and vehicles you can also choose to use the classifier 架[ga3] , for example

a car

一[yat1]架[ga3]車[che1]

For movies or TV shows or a series of books, classifier = 套[tou3] / 齣[cheut1]/ 部[bou6]

a series of books

一[yat1]部[bou6]書[syu1]

**like maybe they have 7 books in one series, that when you will use 一[yat1]部[bou6]書[syu1]. Note that 本[bun2] is used as a classifier for each and every book. For example,

One book

一[yat1]本[bun2]書[syu1]

Ten books

十[sap6]本[bun2]書[syu1]

a hundred books

一[yat1]百[baak3]本[bun2]書[syu1]

On the other hand

A Series of TV shows

一[yat1]部[bou6]電[din6]視[si6]劇[kek6],

A Tv show

一[yat1]齣[cheut1]電[din6]視[si6]劇[kek6]/

一[yat1]套[tou3] 電[din6]視[si6]劇[kek6]

A movie

一[yat1]部[bou6]電[din6]影[ying2]

一[yat1]齣[cheut1]電[din6]影[ying2]

一[yat1]套[tou3]電[din6]影[ying2]

套(Dummy PY: Toll) is also the classifier for a set of clothing.

a set of suit or tuxedo

一[yat1]套[tou3]西[sai1]裝[jong1],

a set of nightgown

一[yat1]套[tou3]禮[lai5]服[fuk6]

For clothings, the classifier = 件[gin6/gin2]

for example,

a shirt

一[yat1]件[gin6]衫[saam1]

a jacket

一[yat1]件[gin6]外[ngoi6]套[tou3]

a dress shirt

一[yat1]件[gin6]恤[seut1]衫[saam1]

For hats, specifically, classifier = 頂[ding2/deng2]

for example,

five hats

五[ng5]頂[ding2/deng2]帽[mou6/mou2]

For eyeglasses or sunglasses specifically, classifier = 副[fu3],

for example,

a pair of eyeglasses

一[yat1]副[fu3]眼[ngaan5]鏡[geng2] .

My sunglasses

我[ngo5]副[fu3]太[taai3]陽[yeung4]眼[ngaan5]鏡[geng2].

You can also use 件[gin6/gin2] with objects that are cubic or objects with shapes, but not a specific shape necessarily, it’s quite ambiguous, for example,

a toy

一[yat1]件[gin6]玩[wun6]具[geui6]

*a toy has some sort of a shape to it

a sushi

一[yat1]件[gin6]壽[sau6]司[si1]

**sushi is like a longish shape.

a piece of furniture

一[yat1]件[gin6]傢[ga1]俬[si1]

a piece of garbage or rubbish

一[yat1]件[gin6]垃[laap6]圾[saap3]

Quite vague, but just remember unless that item has a specific classifier, 件[gin6/gin2] is used for miscellaneous shaped items or objects.

There is another classifier that is more casual and easier to use than 件[gin6/gin2]. This classifier is 舊[gau6], 舊[gau6] is simpler because it applies to most shaped items, but unlike 件[gin6/gin2] you don’t use it with clothes, because clothes has no super concrete shape. 舊[gau6](Dummy PY: Gow) is quite all encompassing when it comes to shaped items, usually rounded or 3D objects not flat or long nor should it be tiny, not people nor animals nor buildings nor clothes though.

For example,

an apple

一[yat1]舊[gau6]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]

a toy

一[yat1]舊[gau6]玩[wun6]具[geui6]

a sushi

一[yat1]舊[gau6]壽[sau6]司[si1]

a piece of furniture

一[yat1]舊[gau6]傢[ga1]俬[si1]

a piece of garbage or rubbish

一[yat1]舊[gau6]垃[laap6]圾[saap3]

A loaf of bread

一[yat1]舊[gau6]麵[min6]包[baau1]

For food, to say a set of a certain food, the classifier 份[fan6]

for example

a set of fried rice,

一[yat1]份[fan6]炒[chaau2]飯[faan6],

a sandwich,

一[yat1]份[fan6]三[saam1]文[man4]治[ji6],

a set of sweet and sour pork,

一[yat1]份[fan6]咕[gu1]嚕[lou1]肉[yuk6].

You can use the classifier 份[fan6] for documents and newspapers as well,

a set of document,

一[yat1]份[fan6]文[man4]件[gin2]

a set of newspapers.

一[yat1]份[fan6]報[bou3]紙[ji2]

Finally for tools, classifier = 把[ba2]

for example,

a knife

一[yat1]把[ba2]刀[dou1]

a pair of scissors

一[yat1]把[ba2]鉸[gaau2]剪[jin2]

An axe

一[yat1]把[ba2]斧[fu2]頭[tau4]

Not all unit classifiers are mentioned here! There are still many more.

Unit classifiers for a pair or group of items or animated or non animated objects

For a pair of something, the classifier = 對[deui3]/ 雙[seung1] (less common). For example,

a pair of earrings

一[yat1]對[deui3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

a pair of shoes

一[yat1]對[deui3]鞋[haai4]

a pair of socks

一[yat1]對[deui3]襪[mat6]

a pair of chopsticks

一[yat1]對[deui3]筷[faai3]子[ji2]

**Remember to refer to one out of a pair, you will use 隻[jek3]. For example,

one single earring

一[yat1]隻[jek3]耳[yi5]環[waan2]

One shoe

一[yat1]隻[jek3]鞋[haai4]

a single sock

一[yat1]隻[jek3]襪[mat6]

one single chopstick

一[yat1]隻[jek3]筷[faai3]子[ji2]

To refer to a group of items or people or animals, the classifier = 炸[ja3], it is a very colloquial unit classifier which I believe is not taught in textbooks. For a group of items, for example, a group or a bunch of items,

a bunch of candy

一[yat1]炸[ja3]糖[tong4/tong2]

For a group of animals or insects,

a group or bunch of ants,

一[yat1]炸[ja3]蟻[ngai5],

a group or bunch of cats

一[yat1]炸[ja3]貓[maau1].

a bunch of people,

一[yat1]炸[ja3]人[yan4]

the classifier 炸[ja3] is quite all encompassing but more casual for groups and bunches of things.

However, for groups of people, you can also use the classifier 班[baan1],

for example

a group of people

一[yat1]班[baan1]人[yan4]

a group of students

一[yat1]班[baan1]學[hok6]生[saang1]

a group of kids

一[yat1]班[baan1]小[siu2]朋[pang4]友[yau5]

Of course all of those examples you can use the classifier 炸[ja3] instead that is no problem.

Unit classifiers for uncountable for unfixed amounts

Classifier = 啲[di1]

啲[di1] can be understood in English as some or the article the. For example,

some time

啲[di1]時[si4]間[gaan3]/

一[yat1]啲[di1]時[si4]間[gaan3]

give me some time

比[bei2]一[yat1]啲[di1]時[si4]間[gaan3]我[ngo5]/

比[bei2]啲[di1]時[si4]間[gaan3]我[ngo5]

the people or some people

啲[di1]人[yan4]/

一[yat1]啲[di1]人[yan4]

the apples, or some apples

啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]/

一[yat1]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]

give me some apples or give me the apples

比[bei2]一[yat1]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]我[ngo5]/

比[bei2]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]我[ngo5].

In possessive forms,

my apples

我[ngo5]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]/

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2]/

我[ngo5]嗰[go2]一[yat1]啲[di1]蘋[ping4]果[gwo2].