Learn Cantonese - Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners

Cantonese: 十個初學者適用嘅句型
Romanization:sap6 go3 co1 hok6 ze2 sik1 jung6 ge3 geoi3 jing4
English: Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners

In this lesson, you will learn the Top 10 Cantonese Sentence Patterns for Beginners. Even though you may already know some Cantonese vocabulary, perhaps you’re finding it difficult to string together coherent sentences. This lesson will break down the key components of 10 basic Cantonese sentence patterns, while also giving you an example of each one. Take your Cantonese to the next level by formulating clear, well-organized Cantonese sentences!

P.S. Be sure to click on the links below to take relevant lessons to learn even more about each sentence pattern!

[A]係[B]。

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]係[B]。
- Romanization: [A] hai6 [B].
- English: [A] is [B].

■ Example

- Entry: 我係學生。
- Romanization: Ngo5 hai6 hok6 saang1.
- English: I am a student.

[A]係唔係[B]?

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]係唔係[B]?
- Romanization: [A] hai6 m4 hai6 [B]?
- English: Is [A] [B]?

■ Example

- Entry: 你係唔係偉仔？
- Romanization: nei5 hai6 m4 hai6 wai5 zai2？
- English: Are you Tony Leung?

[A]喺邊度?

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]喺邊度?
- Romanization: [A] hai2 bin1 dou6?
- English: Where is [A]?

■ Example

- Entry: 廁所喺邊度？
- Romanization: ci3 so2 hai2 bin1 dou6?
- English: Where is the toilet?

[A]好[B].

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]好[B].
- Romanization: [A] hou2 [B].
- English: [A] is very [B(adjective)].

■ Example

- Entry: 嘉玲好靚女。
- Romanization: gaa1 ling4 hou2 leng3 neoi5.
- English: Carling Lau is very goodlooking.

[A]有[B]。

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]有[B]。
- Romanization: [A] jau5 [B].
- English: [A] have [B(noun)].

■ Example

- Entry: 我有車。
- Romanization: Ngo5 jau5 ce1.
- English: I have a car.

[A]鍾意[B]。

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]鍾意[B]。
- Romanization: [A] zung1 ji3 [B].
- English: [A] likes [B].

■ Example

- Entry: 我鍾意貓。
- Romanization: ngo5 zung1 ji3 maau1.
- English: I like cats.

[A] 定 [B]?

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A] 定 [B]?
- Romanization: [A] ding6 [B]?
- English: [A] or [B]?

■ Example

- Entry: 現金定碌咭啊？
- Romanization: jin6 gam1 ding6 luk1 kaat1 aa3 ？
- English: Cash or card?

[A]可唔可以[B(verb)]?

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A]可唔可以[B(verb)]?
- Romanization: [A] ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 [B(verb)]?
- English: Can [A][B(verb)]?

■ Example

- Entry: 我哋可唔可以食嘢?
- Romanization: ngo5 dei6 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 sik6 je5
- English: Can we eat?

點[A]？

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: 點[A]？
- Romanization: dim2 [A]?
- English: How do I [A]?

■ Example

- Entry: 點食？
- Romanization: dim2 sik6?
- English: How do I eat this?

[A(noun)]幾錢?

■ Target Pattern

- Entry: [A(noun)]幾錢?
- Romanization: [A] gei1 cin2?
- English: How much is [A]?

■ Example

- Entry: 呢個幾錢?
- Romanization: ne1 go3 gei1 cin2?
- English: How much is this?

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CantoneseClass101.com

Tuesday at 10:11 AM

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Can you make sample sentences using these patterns?

CantoneseClass101.com

Saturday at 01:55 AM

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Hi Naomi,

Thank you for your positive comment! Let us know if you have any questions. :)

Sincerely,

Sybil

Team CantoneseClass101.com

Naomi

Friday at 11:45 PM

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我好鍾意 cantoneseclass101 😍

CantoneseClass101.com

Saturday at 12:21 AM

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Hi Iman,

Thank you for posting. Let us know if you have any questions. :)

Sincerely,

Sybil

Team CantoneseClass101.com

Iman

Friday at 06:48 PM

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