Emphasis with '嚟㗎' — Cantonese Grammar

The particle (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3) is placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize a fact. It is often used to clarify, correct, or provide new information that the listener may not be aware of. It adds a sense of "as a matter of fact..." or "it is actually..." to a statement.

The most common structure is:

Subject + 係 (hai6) + Noun/Description + 嚟㗎 (lai4 gaa3)

我係學生嚟㗎。
ngo5 hai6 hok6·saang1 lai4 gaa3.ngóh haih hohk·sāang làih ga.ngo5 hai6 hok9·saang1 lai4 gaa3.
I am a student. (Said with emphasis, perhaps to clarify one's status)
呢度係出口嚟㗎。
ni1·dou6 hai6 ceot1·hau2 lai4 gaa3.nī·douh haih chēut·háu làih ga.ni1·dou6 hai6 tsoet7·hau2 lai4 gaa3.
This is the exit. (Said to inform someone who seems lost)

Clarifying and Correcting Information

Use (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3) to correct a misunderstanding or provide the right information when someone is mistaken. It is often used in negative sentences with (m4 hai6m̀h haihm4 hai6) to strongly refute something.

A: 呢杯係咪茶呀？
A: ni1 bui1 hai6·mai6 caa4 aa3?A: nī būi haih·maih chàh a?A: ni1 bui1 hai6·mai6 tsaa4 aa3?
Is this cup of drink tea?
B: 唔係呀，呢杯係咖啡嚟㗎。
B: m4·hai6 aa3, ni1 bui1 hai6 gaa3·fe1 lai4 gaa3.B: m̀h·haih a, nī būi haih ga·fē làih ga.B: m4·hai6 aa3, ni1 bui1 hai6 gaa3·fe1 lai4 gaa3.
No, this is coffee.
佢唔係我哥哥嚟㗎，佢係我男朋友。
keoi5 m4·hai6 ngo5 go4·go1 lai4 gaa3, keoi5 hai6 ngo5 naam4 pang4·jau5.kéuih m̀h·haih ngóh gòh·gō làih ga, kéuih haih ngóh nàahm pàhng·yáuh.koey5 m4·hai6 ngo5 go4·go1 lai4 gaa3, koey5 hai6 ngo5 naam4 pang4·jau5.
He's not my older brother; he's my boyfriend.

Answering Questions and Providing New Facts

When answering questions like "what is...?" or "who is...?", adding (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3) makes the answer sound more natural and informative. It presents the information as a new, relevant fact for the listener.

A: 嗰個係邊個？
A: go2 go3 hai6 bin1 go3?A: gó go haih bīn go?A: go2 go3 hai6 bin1 go3?
Who is that?
B: 嗰個係我老師嚟㗎。
B: go2 go3 hai6 ngo5 lou5·si1 lai4 gaa3.B: gó go haih ngóh lóuh·sī làih ga.B: go2 go3 hai6 ngo5 lou5·si1 lai4 gaa3.
That is my teacher.
呢棟大廈係我哋公司嚟㗎。
ni1 dung3 daai6·haa6 hai6 ngo5·dei6 gung1·si1 lai4 gaa3.nī dung daaih·hah haih ngóh·deih gūng·sī làih ga.ni1 dung3 daai6·haa6 hai6 ngo5·dei6 gung1·si1 lai4 gaa3.
This building is our company's.

Comparing Sentences With and Without '嚟㗎'

Adding (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3) changes a neutral statement into one with added context or emphasis.

Without (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3): This is a simple, neutral statement of fact.

呢個係蘋果。
ni1 go3 hai6 ping4·gwo2.nī go haih pìhng·gwó.ni1 go3 hai6 ping4·gwo2.
This is an apple.

With (lai4 gaa3làih galai4 gaa3): This statement is emphatic. It might be correcting someone who thought it was a pear, or answering the question "What is this fruit?".

呢個係蘋果嚟㗎。
ni1 go3 hai6 ping4·gwo2 lai4 gaa3.nī go haih pìhng·gwó làih ga.ni1 go3 hai6 ping4·gwo2 lai4 gaa3.
This is an apple.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Cantonese course

7 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 54. A few of them, with the words “Emphasis with '嚟㗎'” is about in bold:

唔好食嗰個！豬肉嚟㗎！
m4·hou2 sik6 go2 go3! zyu1 juk6 lai4·gaa3!m̀h·hóu sihk gó go! jyū yuhk làih·ga!m4·hou2 sik9 go2 go3! dzy1 juk9 lai4·gaa3!
Don't eat that! That's pork!
Lesson 366

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