Noun Phrase Marker '嘅'

01

Indicating Possession

The most common use of 嘅 (ge3gege3) is to show possession, similar to "'s" or "of" in English. The structure is: [Possessor] + 嘅 (ge3gege3) + [Item].

• 我嘅書喺枱上面。

  ngo5 ge3 syu1 hai2 toi2 soeng6·min6.ngóh ge syū hái tói seuhng·mihn.ngo5 ge3 sy1 hai2 toi2 soeng6·min6.

  My book is on the table.

• 呢個係老師嘅電話。

  ni1 go3 hai6 lou5·si1 ge3 din6·waa2.nī go haih lóuh·sī ge dihn·wá.ni1 go3 hai6 lou5·si1 ge3 din6·waa2.

  This is the teacher's phone.

• 佢嘅朋友係醫生。

  keoi5 ge3 pang4·jau5 hai6 ji1·sang1.kéuih ge pàhng·yáuh haih yī·sāng.koey5 ge3 pang4·jau5 hai6 ji1·sang1.

  His friend is a doctor.

With close relationships, such as family members, one's school, or one's company, 嘅 (ge3gege3) is often omitted in casual speech. Both forms are correct, but the shorter version is more common.

• 我爸爸係香港人。

  ngo5 baa4·baa1 hai6 hoeng1·gong2 jan4.ngóh bàh·bā haih hēung·góng yàhn.ngo5 baa4·baa1 hai6 hoeng1·gong2 jan4.

  My dad is from Hong Kong.

• 我學校好大。

  ngo5 hok6·haau6 hou2·daai6.ngóh hohk·haauh hóu·daaih.ngo5 hok9·haau6 hou2·daai6.

  My school is very big.

02

Linking Descriptions to Nouns

嘅 (ge3gege3) also acts as a bridge, connecting a descriptive word or phrase to the noun it modifies. This is a very broad and important function. The structure is: [Description] + 嘅 (ge3gege3) + [Noun].

This is used for simple adjectives, especially when they are longer than one character or when emphasis is added.

• 我想要一件紅色嘅衫。

  ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 gin6 hung4·sik1 ge3 saam1.ngóh séung yiu yāt gihn hùhng·sīk ge sāam.ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat7 gin6 hung4·sik7 ge3 saam1.

  I want a red shirt.

• 佢買咗一部好貴嘅電腦。

  keoi5 maai5 zo2 jat1·bou6 hou2·gwai3 ge3 din6·nou5.kéuih máaih jó yāt·bouh hóu·gwai ge dihn·nóuh.koey5 maai5 dzo2 jat7·bou6 hou2·gwai3 ge3 din6·nou5.

  He bought a very expensive computer.

More powerfully, it can link an entire verb phrase to a noun, functioning like relative clauses in English (e.g., "who", "which", "that").

• 食緊飯嗰個人係我哥哥。

  sik6 gan2 faan6 go2 go3·jan4 hai6 ngo5 go4·go1.sihk gán faahn gó go·yàhn haih ngóh gòh·gō.sik9 gan2 faan6 go2 go3·jan4 hai6 ngo5 go4·go1.

  The person who is eating is my older brother.

• 我睇緊嘅書好好睇。

  ngo5 tai2 gan2 ge3 syu1·hou2 hou2·tai2.ngóh tái gán ge syū·hóu hóu·tái.ngo5 tai2 gan2 ge3 sy1·hou2 hou2·tai2.

  The book that I am reading is very good.

• 尋日嚟嘅學生今日冇返學。

  cam4·jat6 lai4 ge3 hok6·saang1 gam1·jat6 mou5 faan1·hok6.chàhm·yaht làih ge hohk·sāang gām·yaht móuh fāan·hohk.tsam4·jat9 lai4 ge3 hok9·saang1 gam1·jat9 mou5 faan1·hok9.

  The student who came yesterday did not come to school today.

03

As a Final Particle for Emphasis

Placed at the end of a sentence, 嘅 (ge3gege3) adds a tone of certainty, confirmation, or explanation. It implies that the statement is a fact or an assured reality.

• 係噉嘅。

  hai6·gam2 ge3.haih·gám ge.hai6·gam2 ge3.

  That's how it is. / It is the case.

• 佢聽日會嚟嘅。

  keoi5 ting1·jat6 wui5 lai4 ge3.kéuih tīng·yaht wúih làih ge.koey5 ting1·jat9 wui5 lai4 ge3.

  He will come tomorrow (for sure).

• 我真係唔識佢嘅。

  ngo5 zan1·hai6 m4 sik1 keoi5 ge3.ngóh jān·haih m̀h sīk kéuih ge.ngo5 dzan1·hai6 m4 sik7 koey5 ge3.

  I really don't know him (and that's the truth).