Classifiers — Cantonese Grammar

Classifiers are measure words used to categorize nouns based on their shape, function, or type. While English uses these occasionally (e.g., a slice of bread, a pair of pants), Cantonese requires a classifier for almost every noun when it is being counted or identified.

Counting Objects

When counting, you cannot place a number directly before a noun. You must use the structure: Number + Classifier + Noun.

一個學生
jat1·go3 hok6·saang1yāt·go hohk·sāangjat7·go3 hok9·saang1
One student.
兩架車
loeng5 gaa3 ce1léuhng ga chēloeng5 gaa3 tse1
Two cars.
三本書
saam1·bun2 syu1sāam·bún syūsaam1·bun2 sy1
Three books.

Demonstratives (This and That)

Classifiers are required when using demonstrative pronouns like "this" or "that". The structure is: Demonstrative + Classifier + Noun. In Hong Kong Cantonese, "this" is (ni1nīni1) and "that" is (go2gógo2).

呢個女仔
ni1 go3 neoi5·zai2nī go néuih·jáini1 go3 noey5·dzai2
This girl.
嗰隻貓
go2 zek3 maau1gó jek māaugo2 dzek8 maau1
That cat.

Indicating Specificity ("The")

A unique feature of Cantonese is that classifiers can function like the definite article "the" in English. By placing a classifier directly before a noun (without a number or demonstrative), you indicate that you are talking about a specific, known object.

架車好快。
gaa3 ce1 hou2·faai3.ga chē hóu·faai.gaa3 tse1 hou2·faai3.
The car is fast.
本書喺度。
bun2·syu1 hai2 dou6.bún·syū hái douh.bun2·sy1 hai2 dou6.
The book is here.

Possession

Classifiers can replace the possessive particle (ge3gege3) to indicate ownership, particularly for single items or close relationships. This makes the sentence sound more natural and less formal.

我個朋友
ngo5 go3 pang4·jau5ngóh go pàhng·yáuhngo5 go3 pang4·jau5
My friend.
佢架車
keoi5 gaa3 ce1kéuih ga chēkoey5 gaa3 tse1
His/Her car.

Choosing the Right Classifier

There are many different classifiers, and choosing the correct one depends on the noun.

Generic: (go3gogo3) is the most common classifier. It is used for people and objects that do not have a specific shape-based classifier. If you are unsure which to use, this is your safest bet.
Vehicles and Machines: (gaa2gágaa2) is used for cars, planes, and machines.
Animals: (zek3jekdzek8) is used for most animals, as well as for one of a pair (like one shoe).
Long objects: (tiu4tìuhtiu4) is used for long, flexible items like fish, streets, pants, or keys.
Flat objects: (zoeng1jēungdzoeng1) is used for paper, tables, chairs, or beds.

一條魚
jat1 tiu4 jyu2yāt tìuh yújat7 tiu4 jy2
One fish.
兩張飛
loeng5 zoeng1·fei1léuhng jēung·fēiloeng5 dzoeng1·fei1
Two tickets.

Omitting the Noun

If the context is clear and the listener knows what object is being discussed, the noun can be dropped, leaving just the number/demonstrative and the classifier.

我要呢個。
ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3.ngóh yiu nī go.ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3.
I want this one.
嗰架好貴。
go2 gaa3 hou2·gwai3.gó ga hóu·gwai.go2 gaa3 hou2·gwai3.
That one (referring to a car/machine) is expensive.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Cantonese course

195 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 2. A few of them, with the words “Classifiers” is about in bold:

呢個係我朋友、Anna。佢係一位學生。
ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 pang4·jau5, Anna. keoi5 hai6 jat1 wai2 hok6·saang1.nī go haih ngóh pàhng·yáuh, Anna. kéuih haih yāt wái hohk·sāang.ni1 go3 hai6 ngo5 pang4·jau5, Anna. koey5 hai6 jat7 wai2 hok9·saang1.
This is my friend, Anna. She is a student.
Lesson 2
我有兩架車，兩架單車，同埋三部電單車。
ngo5 jau5 loeng5 gaa3 ce1, loeng5 gaa3 daan1·ce1, tung4·maai4 saam1 bou6 din6 daan1·ce1.ngóh yáuh léuhng ga chē, léuhng ga dāan·chē, tùhng·màaih sāam bouh dihn dāan·chē.ngo5 jau5 loeng5 gaa3 tse1, loeng5 gaa3 daan1·tse1, tung4·maai4 saam1 bou6 din6 daan1·tse1.
I have two cars, two bicycles, and three motorbikes.
Lesson 33
我去買一隻蕉同六隻雞蛋。
ngo5 heoi3 maai5 jat1 zek3 ziu1 tung4 luk6 zek3 gai1·daan2.ngóh heui máaih yāt jek jīu tùhng luhk jek gāi·dáan.ngo5 hoey3 maai5 jat7 dzek8 dziu1 tung4 luk9 dzek8 gai1·daan2.
I am buying one banana and six eggs.
Lesson 43

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