Plurals with Prefix '啲' — Cantonese Grammar

The prefix (di1dīdi1) is placed before a noun to indicate an indefinite quantity. It can be translated as 'some', 'a few', or 'a little bit'. Unlike the English plural "-s", which simply marks a noun as "more than one", (di1dīdi1) specifies an unspecified amount. It is used with both countable and uncountable nouns.

With Countable Nouns

When used with nouns that can be counted (like people, books, or chairs), (di1dīdi1) means 'some' or 'a few'. It makes the noun plural, but without specifying the exact number.

我買咗啲書。
ngo5 maai5 zo2 di1 syu1.ngóh máaih jó dī syū.ngo5 maai5 dzo2 di1 sy1.
I bought some books.
枱上面有啲蘋果。
toi2 soeng6·min6 jau5·di1 ping4·gwo2.tói seuhng·mihn yáuh·dī pìhng·gwó.toi2 soeng6·min6 jau5·di1 ping4·gwo2.
There are some apples on the table.
啲人走咗喇。
di1 jan4 zau2 zo2 laa3.dī yàhn jáu jó la.di1 jan4 dzau2 dzo2 laa3.
The people have left. (or Some people have left.)

With Uncountable Nouns

With nouns that cannot be counted (like water, rice, or time), (di1dīdi1) means 'some' or 'a little bit'.

我想飲啲水。
ngo5 soeng2 jam2·di1 seoi2.ngóh séung yám·dī séui.ngo5 soeng2 jam2·di1 soey2.
I want to drink some water.
我冇乜時間，得返啲啲。
ngo5 mou5 mat1 si4·gaan3, dak1 faan1 di1 di1.ngóh móuh māt sìh·gaan, dāk fāan dī dī.ngo5 mou5 mat7 si4·gaan3, dak7 faan1 di1 di1.
I don't have much time, only a little bit left.
落啲鹽啦。
lok6 di1 jim4 laa1.lohk dī yìhm lā.lok9 di1 jim4 laa1.
Add a little bit of salt.

Modifying Adjectives

A very common use of (di1dīdi1) is to place it after an adjective. In this position, it functions as a comparative, meaning 'a little more' or creating an "-er" effect.

呢件衫大啲。
ni1 gin6 saam1 daai6·di1.nī gihn sāam daaih·dī.ni1 gin6 saam1 daai6·di1.
This piece of clothing is a bit bigger.
你可唔可以行快啲？
nei5 ho2 m4 ho2·ji5 haang4 faai3·di1?néih hó m̀h hó·yíh hàahng faai·dī?nei5 ho2 m4 ho2·ji5 haang4 faai3·di1?
Can you walk a little faster?
個喇叭細聲啲啦。
go3 laa3·baa1 sai3·seng1 di1 laa1.go la·bā sai·sēng dī lā.go3 laa3·baa1 sai3·seu1 di1 laa1.
Turn the speaker a bit quieter.

Context and Optional Plurals

In Cantonese, nouns are not inherently singular or plural. Plurality is often understood from context or explicitly marked with numbers or quantifiers. Using (di1dīdi1) is one way to do this, but it is not always required. For example, (ngo5 zung1 ji3 gau2ngóh jūng yi gáungo5 dzung1 ji3 gau2) can mean 'I like dogs' (in general) or 'I like the dog' depending on the situation. To be specific, you would use a number and a classifier for the singular, or a quantifier like (di1dīdi1) for an indefinite plural.

我見到一隻貓。
ngo5 gin3·dou2 jat1 zek3 maau1.ngóh gin·dóu yāt jek māau.ngo5 gin3·dou2 jat7 dzek8 maau1.
I see a cat. (Singular)
我見到啲貓。
ngo5 gin3·dou2 di1 maau1.ngóh gin·dóu dī māau.ngo5 gin3·dou2 di1 maau1.
I see some cats. (Indefinite plural)
我見到好多貓。
ngo5 gin3·dou2 hou2·do1 maau1.ngóh gin·dóu hóu·dō māau.ngo5 gin3·dou2 hou2·do1 maau1.
I see many cats. (Specific quantifier for plural)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Cantonese course

42 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 29. A few of them, with the words “Plurals with Prefix '啲'” is about in bold:

你好，醫生。我有啲事。
nei5 hou2, ji1·sang1. ngo5 jau5 di1 si6.néih hóu, yī·sāng. ngóh yáuh dī sih.nei5 hou2, ji1·sang1. ngo5 jau5 di1 si6.
Hello, Doctor. I have a problem.
Lesson 91
你啲仔女好靚仔靚女。佢哋幾多歲呀？
nei5 di1 zai2·neoi2 hou2 leng3·zai2 leng3·neoi2. keoi5·dei6 gei2·do1 seoi3 aa4?néih dī jái·néui hóu leng·jái leng·néui. kéuih·deih géi·dō seui àh?nei5 di1 dzai2·noey2 hou2 leu3·dzai2 leu3·noey2. koey5·dei6 gei2·do1 soey3 aa4?
You have two very beautiful children. How old are they?
Lesson 264
如果你個人可以慳錢啲就好喇。
jyu4·gwo2 nei5 go3·jan4 ho2·ji5 haan1 cin2 di1 zau6 hou2 laa3.yùh·gwó néih go·yàhn hó·yíh hāan chín dī jauh hóu la.jy4·gwo2 nei5 go3·jan4 ho2·ji5 haan1 tsin2 di1 dzau6 hou2 laa3.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328

Comments

Loading comments…