Emphasis with Sentence-Final '嘅'

01

The '係...嘅' Structure for Emphasis

This is the most common way to use the emphatic 嘅 (ge3gege3). The word 係 (hai6haihhai6) is placed directly before the information you want to emphasize, and 嘅 (ge3gege3) is placed at the end of the clause. The basic structure is:

Subject + 係 (hai6) + [Emphasized Information] + Verb/Predicate + 嘅 (ge3).

This is similar to the English construction "It is/was [X] that...". You can emphasize different parts of a sentence, such as the time, place, or person.

Emphasizing the time

• 我係尋日見到佢嘅。

  ngo5 hai6 cam4·jat6 gin3·dou2 keoi5 ge3.ngóh haih chàhm·yaht gin·dóu kéuih ge.ngo5 hai6 tsam4·jat9 gin3·dou2 koey5 ge3.

  It was yesterday that I saw him.

• 我哋係三點鐘食飯嘅。

  ngo5·dei6 hai6 saam1 dim2·zung1 sik6·faan6 ge3.ngóh·deih haih sāam dím·jūng sihk·faahn ge.ngo5·dei6 hai6 saam1 dim2·dzung1 sik9·faan6 ge3.

  It was at three o'clock that we ate.

Emphasizing the place

• 佢係喺香港出世嘅。

  keoi5 hai6 hai2 hoeng1·gong2 ceot1·sai3 ge3.kéuih haih hái hēung·góng chēut·sai ge.koey5 hai6 hai2 hoeng1·gong2 tsoet7·sai3 ge3.

  It was in Hong Kong that she was born.

• 我係喺公司食晏嘅。

  ngo5 hai6 hai2 gung1·si1 sik6 ngaan3 ge3.ngóh haih hái gūng·sī sihk ngaan ge.ngo5 hai6 hai2 gung1·si1 sik9 ngaan3 ge3.

  It was at the office that I ate lunch.

Emphasizing the person (subject or object)

• 係我打電話俾你嘅。

  hai6 ngo5 daa2 din6·waa2 bei2 nei5 ge3.haih ngóh dá dihn·wá béi néih ge.hai6 ngo5 daa2 din6·waa2 bei2 nei5 ge3.

  It was me who called you.

• 我係同陳小姐開會嘅。

  ngo5 hai6 tung4 can4·siu2·ze2 hoi1·wui2 ge3.ngóh haih tùhng chàhn·síu·jé hōi·wúi ge.ngo5 hai6 tung4 tsan4·siu2·dze2 hoi1·wui2 ge3.

  The person I had a meeting with was Miss Chan.

Emphasizing the manner or method

• 佢係搭地鐵返工嘅。

  keoi5 hai6 daap3 dei6·tit3 faan1·gung1 ge3.kéuih haih daap deih·tit fāan·gūng ge.koey5 hai6 daap8 dei6·tit8 faan1·gung1 ge3.

  He goes to work by MTR.

02

Distinguishing from Possessive '嘅'

The particle 嘅 (ge3gege3) is also used to show possession or to link a description to a noun, similar to "'s" or "of" in English. The key difference is its position and function.

When 嘅 (ge3gege3) is followed by a noun, it is possessive or descriptive.

• 呢本書係我嘅。

  ni1 bun2·syu1 hai6 ngo5 ge3.nī bún·syū haih ngóh ge.ni1 bun2·sy1 hai6 ngo5 ge3.

  This book is mine.

• 嗰個係我嘅朋友。

  go2 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3 pang4·jau5.gó go haih ngóh ge pàhng·yáuh.go2 go3 hai6 ngo5 ge3 pang4·jau5.

  That is my friend.

• 紅色嘅車係我嘅。

  hung4·sik1 ge3 ce1 hai6 ngo5 ge3.hùhng·sīk ge chē haih ngóh ge.hung4·sik7 ge3 tse1 hai6 ngo5 ge3.

  The red car is mine.

When 嘅 (ge3gege3) is at the very end of a sentence and is part of the 係...嘅 (hai6...ge3haih...gehai6...ge3) structure, it is for emphasis. Notice how the meaning changes.

• 呢本書係我買嘅。

  ni1 bun2·syu1 hai6 ngo5 maai5 ge3.nī bún·syū haih ngóh máaih ge.ni1 bun2·sy1 hai6 ngo5 maai5 ge3.

  It was me who bought this book.

• 架車係紅色嘅。

  gaa3 ce1 hai6 hung4·sik1 ge3.ga chē haih hùhng·sīk ge.gaa3 tse1 hai6 hung4·sik7 ge3.

  The car is red. (Stating a fact with certainty, as if to correct or confirm).

03

Using '嘅' Without '係'

In some situations, especially in answers to questions, the 係 (hai6haihhai6) can be omitted. The sentence still carries an emphatic meaning, as it provides a specific piece of information that was previously unknown or questioned.

Person A: 你喺邊度買㗎？ (nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 maai5 gaa3?néih hái bīn douh máaih ga?nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 maai5 gaa3?) - Where did you buy it?

Person B: 我喺旺角買嘅。 (ngo5 hai2 wong6 gok3 maai5 ge3.ngóh hái wohng gok máaih ge.ngo5 hai2 wong6 gok8 maai5 ge3.) - I bought it in Mong Kok.

In this reply, 我係喺旺角買嘅 (ngo5 hai6 hai2 wong6 gok3 maai5 ge3ngóh haih hái wohng gok máaih gengo5 hai6 hai2 wong6 gok8 maai5 ge3) is also correct, but omitting 係 (hai6haihhai6) is common in conversational responses.

• 呢啲餸係媽媽煮嘅。

  ni1·di1 sung3 hai6 maa1·maa1 zyu2 ge3.nī·dī sung haih mā·mā jyú ge.ni1·di1 sung3 hai6 maa1·maa1 dzy2 ge3.

  This food was cooked by Mom.