Making comparisons in Cantonese
In this post, you will learn how to make comparative statements and questions using a few simple sentence structures. Don't forget to complete the exercises at the end of the post to consolidate your knowledge!
Let’s take 大 (daai2) big as an example.
| big | bigger | bigger than | biggest | as big as | not as big as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大 | 大啲 | 大過 | 最大 | 一樣大 | 冇__咁大 |
| daai6 | daai6 di1 | daai6 gwo5 | zoei3 daai6 | jat1 joeng6 daai6 | mou3__gam3 daai6 |
Let's take a look at some example sentences.
How to form comparative statements
An adjective in a statement without comparison:
(A)好_(Adj)_.
(A) hou2_(Adj)_.
呢個蘋果好大 (nei1 go3 ping4 gwo2 hou2 daai6) - This apple is big
When there two subjects to compare:
(A)_(Adj)_過(B).
(A)_(Adj)_gwo3(B).
呢個蘋果大過呢個橙 (nei1 go3 ping4gwo2 daai6 gwo3 nei1 go3 caang2) - This apple is bigger than this orange
When the order is reversed:
(A)冇(B)咁_(Adj)_.
(A)冇(B)gam3_(Adj)_.
呢個橙冇呢個蘋果咁大 (nei1 go3 caang2 mou5 nei1 go3 ping4 gwo2 gam3 daai6) - This orange is not as big as this apple
When there is a comparison, but the second subject is not mentioned in the statement:
(A)_(Adj)_啲.
(A)_(Adj)_di1.
呢個蘋果大啲 (nei1 go3 ping4 gwo2 daai6 di1) - This apple is bigger
(A)最_(Adj)_.
(A)zoei3_(Adj)_.
呢個蘋果最大 (nei1 go3 ping4 gwo2 zeoi3 daai6) - This apple is the biggest
When they are the same:
(A) 同 (B)一樣_(Adj)_.
(A) tung4 (B) jat1 joeng6_(Adj)_.
呢個蘋果同呢個橙一樣大 (ni1 go3 ping4 gwo2 tung4 ni1 go3 caang2 jat1 joeng6 daai6) - This apple and this orange are the same size.
How to form comparative questions
定係 (ding6 hai6) - or
(A)_(Adj)_啲 定係 (B)_(Adj)_啲?
(A)_(Adj)_di1 ding6 hai6 (B)_(Adj)_di1?
呢個橙大啲定係呢個蘋果大啲？ (nei1 go3 caang2 daai6 di1 ding6 hai6 nei1 go3 ping4gwo2 daai6 di1?) - Is this orange bigger or is this apple bigger?
Sometimes we abbreviate it into:
個橙定個蘋果大啲？ (go3 caang2 ding6 go3 ping4gwo2 daai6 di1?)
Your turn!
new words:
- 多(do1) - many/more
- 少(siu2) - little (in quantity)/less
- 細(sai3) - small/little (in size or age)
Answer the following questions:
- 蘋果大啲定係西瓜大啲? (ping4 gwo2 daai6 di1 ding6 hai6 sai1 gwaa1 daai6 di1)
- 橙多啲定係蘋果多啲？(caang2 do1 di1 ding6 hai6 ping4 gwo2 do1 di1)
- 邊個最多？(bin1 go3 zeoi3 do1)
- 橙細啲定係西瓜細啲？(caang2 sai3 di1 ding6 hai6 sai1 gwaa1 sai3 di1)
- 邊個最大？(bin1 go3 zeoi3 daai6)
- 西瓜少啲定係蘋果少啲？(sai1 gwaa1 siu2 di1 ding6 hai6 ping4 gwo2 siu2 di1)
Answers
- 西瓜大啲/西瓜大過蘋果（sai1 gwaa1 daai6 di1 /sai1 gwaa1 daai6 gwo3 ping4 gwo2）- The watermelon is bigger/The watermelon is bigger than the apple
- 橙多啲/橙多過蘋果（caang2 do1 di1 /caang2 do1 gwo3 ping4 gwo2）- More oranges/There are more oranges than apples
- 橙最多 （caang2 zeoi3 do1）- Oranges are the most numerous
- 橙細啲/橙細過西瓜 （caang2 sai3 di1 /caang2 sai3 gwo3 sai1 gwaa1）- The orange is smaller/The orange is smaller than the watermelon
- 西瓜最大 （sai1 gwaa1 zeoi3 daai6) - The watermelon is the biggest
- 西瓜少啲/西瓜少過蘋果 (sai1 gwaa1 siu2 di1 /sai1 gwaa1 siu2 gwo3 ping4 gwo2) - Fewer watermelons/There are fewer watermelons than apples