How to Use Question Words in Cantonese: Who, What, Where?
Understanding Cantonese Question Words
Cantonese, like many other languages, uses specific words to form questions. These question words serve as tools for gathering information about people, things, and places.
Using 'Who' in Cantonese
The word for 'who' in Cantonese is 邊個. It is used to inquire about a person in questions. For example, 'Who is this?' would be phrased as 呢個係邊個？.
呢個係邊個？
Who is this?
邊個想去？
Who wants to go?
Using 'What' in Cantonese
To ask 'what' in Cantonese, the word 咩 is used. It inquires about objects or concepts. For instance, 'What is this?' translates to 呢個係咩？.
呢個係咩？
What is this?
你做緊咩？
What are you doing?
Using 'Where' in Cantonese
The question word for 'where' in Cantonese is 邊度. It is essential for asking about locations. An example would be 'Where is the bathroom?', which is 洗手間喺邊度？.
你喺邊度？
Where are you?
我個電話喺邊度？
Where is my phone?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It's important to ensure that the question word does not change its meaning due to incorrect context placement-a common mistake for beginners.
Practice Forming Questions
To become proficient, practice forming questions daily with these words. Listen to native speakers for tonal accuracy and context placement.
Further Reading
- Cantonese Grammar Overview
An overview of basic Cantonese grammar rules.
- Expressing Questions in Chinese
Guide to forming questions across various Chinese dialects.
- Cantonese Listening Practice
Improve your listening skills with Cantonese conversations.