Grammar - Linking words
If... then... / Because... so....
Continuing on our linking words topic, today we will explore the Cantonese version of “If”, “because” and “therefore”. There are many occasions, much like English, when we will need to use a conditional sentence, if something something happens then something something happens. And 同埋 (Dummy PY: Tong My) we will need to show cause and effect, then we will need to use because of something something, therefore something something.
Let’s dive right into it.
如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo)... 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) ... If… then...
如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo) meaning if, is to set out a hypothesis. This can include plausible, not very plausible or very unlikely situations. 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) in the 如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo) if sentence, it means then. The word 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) meaning then, can sometimes be omitted. In Cantonese, it is a lot easier than English in my opinion, because let’s say in the conditional sentences, “if”, in English, there are a lot of tenses involved to show the time or how plausible of that “if” situation. In the Cantonese language, we don’t really express how plausible it is in the tenses of the “if” clauses, because for us, “if” is “if”. “If” for us, means it is unknown and not yet know whether or not it will happen or has happened, so it’s pretty straight forward. The formula is usually:
如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo) + situation, subject + 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) + outcome.
I am going to show you all the conditional sentences in English as examples, so you can compare and contrast.
For example:
Condition zero: (Things that are facts and will likely to be true forever)
- If you leave the ice under the sun, it melts.
- 如果你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。
(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
*here in this sentence, the 就(Dummy PY: Jow) meaning then can be omitted. 冰 (Dummy PY: Bing) means ice, 太陽 (Dummy PY: Tie Yeung) means sun, and 溶 (Dummy PY: Yong) means melt. 會 (Dummy PY: Wui/ Woo-ee) can be understood as will.
Condition 1: (Things that are likely to happen in the coming future)
- If it rains tomorrow, we will not go hiking in Lautau Island.
- 如果聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。
(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
*聽日 (Dummy PY: Ting Yat) means tomorrow. 落雨 (Dummy PY: Lock Yu) means pouring rain, 行山 (Dummy PY: Harng Sarn) means hiking. Lautau Island is 大嶼山 (Dummy PY: Die Yu Sarn). Have you heard of this place? We have a giant buddha in Lautau Island in Hong Kong. Very close to the airport. You can also get buddhist vegetarian food there. We now also have a cable car on Lautau Island, a little expensive, but it’s a touristy thing to do.
Condition 2: （Used for present or future unlikely situations)
- If I stayed up late tonight, I wouldn’t be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
- 如果我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。
(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
*今晚 (Dummy PY: Gum Marn) means tonight, 夜訓 (Dummy PY: Yeah Fun) means late to sleep. 夜 (Dummy PY: Yeah) means night or late at night depending on the context, 訓 is short for 訓教 (Dummy PY: Fun Gow) meaning sleep. 起身(Dummy PY: Hey Sun) means get up, 唔 (Dummy PY: Um) is the not, or the negative, 起唔到身 (Dummy PY; Hey Um Dou Sun) means cannot get up. 番工 (Dummy PY: Farn Gong) means go to work. 番 (Dumm yPY: Farn) means return. On the other hand, to go to school is 番學(dummy PY: Farn Hawk)，and to go home is 番屋企 (Dummy PY: Farn Uk Kay)
Condition 3: (Possible situation in the past)
- If you hadn’t wanted to learn Cantonese before, you would not have been listening to my podcast right now.
- 如果你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。
(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
＊之前 (Dummy PY: Ji Chin) means before. 而家 (Dummy PY: Yee Ga) means now. What is podcast in Cantonese? To be honest, I have never heard someone referred to podcast in Cantonese in Hong Kong, we have always just called it Podcast. In Mainland China, they refer to it as 播客 (Dummy PY: Boo Hack), but I am quite sure if you used this term with Hong Kongers, most won’t know what you are referring to.
From these examples, you can pretty much tell, in Cantonese we don’t differentiate these conditions under the same category of 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo). We refer to the time, like 之前 (Dummy PY: Ji Chin) means before. 而家 (Dummy PY: Yee Ga) means now. 會 (Dummy PY: Wui/ Woo-ee) can be understood as will. We understand if 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) as hypothetical, which means it might or might not happen.
Hey dummy, what if something is very implausible, how can someone tell if you are suggesting something very unlikely?
萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) - If/ in the case of
The next word that indicates an if but less probable after 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) if is 萬一(Dummy PY: Marn Yat), 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) is a number! 萬 (Dummy PY: Marn) means 10,000 and 一 (Dummy PY: Yat) is one. So in the context of replacing 如果 with 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat), it means the 1 out of 10,000 situation, meaning not very likely. 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) can also be understood as in case. Usually 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) is used to refer to future usually unwanted situations. The formula is the same as 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo):
萬一(Dummy PY: Marn Yat)+ situation, 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) + outcome.
For example:
Condition zero: (Things that are facts and will likely to be true forever)
- If (in the case of) you leave the ice under the sun, it melts.
- 萬一你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。
(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
*here with 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) in this sentence, you are suggesting that the ice melting under the sun isn't a favourable or wanted outcome, so you actually don't want the ice to melt, but in case you did that, it will. But in the case of 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) it is more neutral, you are not suggesting you want the ice to melt or not.
Condition 1: (Things that are likely to happen in the coming future)
- If it rains tomorrow, we will not go hiking in Lautau Island.
- 萬一聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。
(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
*Here with 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat), you are suggesting that in the unlikely event that it rains, which is unwanted, but it still might rain.
Condition 2:（Used for present or future unlikely situations)
- If I stayed up late tonight, I wouldn’t be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
- 萬一我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。
(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
*it’s almost like you are anticipating something to happen. Like if you are waiting for a late night phone call but you are not sure if they will actually be calling or not. Does that make sense? Only slight differences.
Condition 3: (Possible situation in the past)
- If you hadn’t wanted to learn Cantonese before, you would not have been listening to my podcast right now.
*with this sentence we usually won't use 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat), it makes a little less sense if you use 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat), because like I said 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) is usually used in future situations, much like if you say “in case you hadn’t wanted to learn Cantonese before, you wouldn’t have been listening to my podcast” just sounds a little funky.
假如 (Dummy PY: Ga Yu)/ 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) - Hypothetically speaking
We also use this term 假如 (Dummy PY: Ga Yu)，假 (Dummy PY: Ga) means fake, the opposite of 真 (Dummy PY: Jun) meaning real or true. And 如 (Dummy PY: Yu) means if, so it’s like a fake if. However, for something that is very very hypothetical, we will use the term 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit)。Again 假 means fake(Dummy PY: Ga). 設 (Dummy PY: Chit) can mean like a set up, arrangement or establishment of that kind depending on the context. So 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) in other words mean someone is setting up a fake scenario, so it has the meaning of “hypothetically speaking”. You can basically replace all the ifs 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) with 假如 (Dummy PY: Yu) or 假設(Dummy PY: Ga Chit) “hypothetically speaking” in the examples earlier, that’s no problem. It is still understandable. However, in most situations, It is way more common to use 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) over 假設(Dummy PY: Ga Chit)。Unless it is something that is completely made up, like if in a parallel universe, if this were to happen, kind of thing then we will use 假設(Dummy PY: Ga Chit). Although they are all acceptable in casual spoken Cantonese. Same formula again:
假如 (Dummy PY: Ga Yu) / 假設(Dummy PY: Ga Chit) + situation, 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) + outcome.
So on the scale, 如果 (Dummy PY: Yu Guo) will be used in the most likely situations, then 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat) a little less likely 1 out of 10,000, then 假如 the fake if, not very likely at all, then 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) the fake parallel universe situation. Some people say 假如 (Dummy PY: Ga Yu) and 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) can be seen on the same level, I don’t deny that as well. After a certain point of unlikeliness, it doesn’t matter too much anymore.
For example:
Condition zero: (Things that are facts and will likely to be true forever)
- If you leave the ice under the sun, it melts.
- 假如你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
- 假設你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
*Basically with 假如 (Dummy PY: Ga Yu) and 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) in this sentence, you are suggesting that hypothetically speaking, if you were to put ice under the sun, yes it would melt.
Condition 1: (Things that are likely to happen in the coming future)
- If it rains tomorrow, we will not go hiking in Lautau Island.
- 假如聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
- 假設聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
*Same thing, hypothetically speaking.
Condition 2:
- If I stayed up late tonight, I wouldn’t be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
- 假如我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
- 假設我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
*For this sentence, it is not wrong to use 如果. It is only that when you use 假如, the fake if, it magnifies the unlikely plausibility.
Condition 3: (Possible situation in the past)
- If you hadn’t wanted to learn Cantonese before, you would not have been listening to my podcast right now.
- 假如你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。
(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
- 假設你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
In this sentence, I feel if I have to choose the most correct, it will be 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit). Because like I explained, 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit) is usually for things that are completely hypothetical. Here in this sentence, because we are talking about something that already happened, but if you could have done it differently, so kind of setting up a parallel universe situation, then I think 假設 is the most appropriate. But like I said, it isn’t wrong at all to use 如果 if and 假如(Dummy PY: Ga Yu) the fake if, just not so much 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat).
To sum it up, the most likely situations as if you are making a prediction, then you will use 如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo), and it can also be used in unlikely situations. Then a little less likely, 1/ 10000 then you will use 萬一 (Dummy PY: Marn Yat), usually only used to predict the future but lots of times it is used to predict something unwanted. Then even more unlikely you can use 假如(Dummy PY: Ga Yu), the fake if. Then for something that is completely hypothetical, you can use 假設 (Dummy PY: Ga Chit), a fake made up situation.
因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)...所以... (Dummy PY: Saw Yee)because… therefore…
Moving on, I also want to talk about because… and therefore… today. In Cantonese it is 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)...所以... (Dummy PY: Saw Yee) to break down the term 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why), 因 (Dummy PY: Yen)means reason, 為 (Dummy PY: Why)means for, so that is to say, the reason for something, meaning because of something. 所以 (Dummy PY: Saw Yee) is usually used together with 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why), slightly different than English. In English you don’t have to use because and so together, in Cantonese they usually are used in the same sentence. 所以 (Dummy PY: Saw Yee) means so, or therefore. I think it might be easier to remember it as so, because 所以(Dummy PY: Saw Yee) also starts with an “s” sound. The formula is this:
因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)+ reason, 所以 (Dummy PY: Saw Yee) + something happened
For example:
- Because rent and properties are too expensive in Hong Kong, so many married couples and people over 30 are still living with their parents.
- 因為香港既租金同買樓太貴，所以好多結咗婚同30歲以上既人仍然同父母住。
(Dummy PY: Yen Why Heung Gong Ge Joe Gum Tong My Lau Tie Gwai, Saw Yee Ho Door Geet Jor Fun Tong Sarm Sup Sui Yee Seung Ge Yen Ying Yeen Tong Fu Mo Ju)
＊租 (Dummy PY: Joe) means rent, 金 (Dummy PY: Gum) means gold, in other words, money. So 租金 (Dummy PY: Joe Gum) means rent money. 買 (Dummy PY: My) means buy, 樓 (Dummy PY: Lau) means building or property, so 買樓 (Dummy PY: My Lau) means buying a property. 結婚 (Dummy PY: Geet Fun) means getting married, 結咗婚 (Dummy PY: Geet Jor Fun) means married. 住 (Dummy PY: Ju / Jyu) means live.
- Because there is police brutality, so people are very upset.
- 因為有警察濫暴，所以啲人好唔開心。(Dummy PY: Yen Why Ging Chat Larm Bow, Saw Yee Dee Yen Hoe Um Hoy Sum)
*警察 (Dummy PY: Ging Chat) means police. 濫暴 (Dummy PY: Larm Bow) means abuse violence. 啲人 (Dummy PY: Dee Yen) means the people. 啲 (Dummy PY: Dee) can be understood as the, or a certain group of something. 啲 (Dummy PY: Dee) has the same pronunciation as the English letter D. Sometimes in text messages or social media, you can see people using the English letter D to refer to something. For example 啲食物 (Dummy PY: Dee Sick Mut) the food, 啲花 (Dummy PY: Dee Fa) the flowers, etc. 唔開心 (Dummy PY: Um Hoy Sum) means not happy.
由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu) ... 因此... (Dummy PY: Yen Chi)
There is a second version of 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)...所以... (Dummy PY: Saw Yee)because… therefore… but in a more formal way. It is 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu) ... 因此... (Dummy PY: Yen Chi) 由于(Dummy PY: Yao Yu)... 因此(Dummy PY: Yen Chi)... is a lot more formal, very seldom you will hear this in conversational Cantonese, but in notices, or official announcement or the news or any formal setting, you might hear this. 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu)... 因此(Dummy PY: Yen Chi)... is interchangeable with 因為...所以... just a little more formal. Pay attention to the tones of 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu), because 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu) sounds like 魷魚 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu)meaning a squid, like the sea creature. Just slightly different tones, if you said 魷魚 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu) squid, then it wouldn’t make any sense. To use 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu)... 因此(Dummy PY: Yen Chi)... basically you can use the same formula:
由于(Dummy PY: Yao Yu)+ reason, 因此(Dummy PY: Yen Chi) + something happened
For example:
- Because rent and properties are too expensive in Hong Kong, so many married couples and people over 30 are still living with their parents.
- 由于香港既租金同買樓太貴，因此好多結咗婚同30歲以上既人仍然同父母住。
(Dummy PY: Yao Yu Heung Gong Ge Joe Gum Tong My Lau Tie Gwai, Yen Chi Ho Door Geet Jor Fun Tong Sarm Sup Sui Yee Seung Ge Yen Ying Yeen Tong Fu Mo Ju)
- Because there is police brutality, so people are very upset.
- 由于有警察濫暴，因此啲人好唔開心。
(Dummy PY: Yao Yu Ging Chat Larm Bow, Yen Chi Dee Yen Hoe Um Hoy Sum)
In summary, 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)...所以... (Dummy PY: Saw Yee)because… therefore…is more casual and 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu)... 因此(Dummy PY: Yen Chi)... is more formal but they are interchangeable.
That’s all I wanted to say today. Let’s practice some vocab and sentences:
Vocab:
- If… then...
- 如果(Dummy PY: Yu Guo)... 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) ... / 萬一(Dummy PY: Marn Yat)... 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) ... / 假如 (Dummy PY: Yu)... 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) ... / 假設(Dummy PY: Ga Chit) ... 就 (Dummy PY: Jow) …
- If you leave the ice under the sun, it melts.
- 如果你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。
(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
- 萬一你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
- 假如你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
- 假設你放啲冰係太陽下面，佢就會溶。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Nei Fong Dee Bing Hi Tie Yeung Ha Mean, Kui Jow Wui Yong)
- If it rains tomorrow, we will not go hiking in Lautau Island.
-如果聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
- 萬一聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
- 假如聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
- 假設聽日落雨，我地就唔會去大嶼山行山。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Ting Yat Lock Yu, Ngo Day Jow Um Wui Hui Die Yu Sarn Harng Sarn)
- If I stayed up late tonight, I wouldn’t be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
如果我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
- 萬一我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Marn Yat Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
- 假如我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
- 假設我今晚夜訓，我聽日就起唔到身番工。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Ngo Gum Marn Yeah Fun, Ngo Ting Yat Jow Hey Um Dou Sun Farn Gong)
- If you hadn’t wanted to learn Cantonese before, you would not have been listening to my podcast right now.
- 如果你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。(Dummy PY: Yu Guo Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
- 假如你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。(Dummy PY: Ga Yu Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
- 假設你之前唔係想學廣東話，你而家就唔會聽緊我個Podcast。(Dummy PY: Ga Chit Nei Ji Chin Um Hi Seung Hawk Gwong Dong Wa, Nei Yee Ga Um Wui Ting Gun Ngo Gor Podcast)
- because… therefore…
- 因為(Dummy PY: Yen Why)...所以... (Dummy PY: Saw Yee)/ 由于 (Dummy PY: Yao Yu) ... 因此... (Dummy PY: Yen Chi)
- Because rent and properties are too expensive in Hong Kong, so many married couples and people over 30 are still living with their parents.
- 因為香港既租金同買樓太貴，所以好多結咗婚同30歲以上既人仍然同父母住。(Dummy PY: Yen Why Heung Gong Ge Joe Gum Tong My Lau Tie Gwai, Saw Yee Ho Door Geet Jor Fun Tong Sarm Sup Sui Yee Seung Ge Yen Ying Yeen Tong Fu Mo Ju)
- 由于香港既租金同買樓太貴，因此好多結咗婚同30歲以上既人仍然同父母住。(Dummy PY: Yao Yu Heung Gong Ge Joe Gum Tong My Lau Tie Gwai, Yen Chi Ho Door Geet Jor Fun Tong Sarm Sup Sui Yee Seung Ge Yen Ying Yeen Tong Fu Mo Ju)
- Because there is police brutality, so people are very upset.
- 因為有警察濫暴，所以啲人好唔開心。(Dummy PY: Yen Why Ging Chat Larm Bow, Saw Yee Dee Yen Hoe Um Hoy Sum)
- 由于有警察濫暴，因此啲人好唔開心。(Dummy PY: Yao Yu Ging Chat Larm Bow, Yen Chi Dee Yen Hoe Um Hoy Sum)
Resource:
(English)
(Simplified)
The Art of Hong Kongese by a dummy
Hong Kong cantonese Learning
