Conjunctive adverbs are a crucial part of every language. They allow us to connect our thoughts, make comparisons, and string together sentences. There are various Cantonese conjunctions you can choose from to formulate your ideas. Trust us when we say that learning Cantonese conjunctions is one of the best things you’ll ever do for your language-learning!
Without further ado, let’s go through Cantonese conjunctions in detail below!
Table of Contents
- Cantonese Conjunction Overview
- Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts (And)
- Conjunctions to Express Condition (If)
- Conjunctions to Express Causality (So)
- Conjunctions to Express Opposition (But)
- Conjunctions to Express Purpose (So that)
- Conjunctions to Express Progression (Not only)
- How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
1. Cantonese Conjunction Overview
“Conjunction” is 連接詞 (lin4 zip3 ci4) in Cantonese.
A conjunction, in grammar, is a part of speech that connects words, phrases, or clauses. It helps us to express our ideas and thoughts in a more coherent way. Like “but,” “and,” “so,” and “because” in English, there are specific words used to connect our thoughts in Cantonese. Below we have classified the Cantonese conjunctions into several categories based on their purposes and meanings.
2. Conjunctions to Correlate Similar Thoughts (And)
1- 和
Meaning: And
Romanization: wo4
Usage: Formal; usually used only in writing; interchangeable with 跟 and 與
- Example Sentence: 我和Ron是好朋友。
- Romanization: ngo5 wo4 “Ron” si6 hou2 pang4 jau5
- Meaning: Ron and I are good friends.
2- 跟
Meaning: And
Romanization: gan1
Usage: Formal; usually used only in writing; interchangeable with 和 and 與
- Example Sentence: 我跟Hermione是同學。
- Romanization: ngo5 gan1 “Hermione” si6 tung4 hok6
- Meaning: Hermione and I are classmates.
3- 與
Meaning: And
Romanization: jyu5
Usage: Formal; usually used only in writing; interchangeable with 和 and 跟
- Example Sentence: 我與Tom是敵人。
- Romanization: ngo5 jyu5 “Tom” si6 dik6 jan4
- Meaning: Tom and I are enemies.
4- 及
Meaning: And
Romanization: kap6
Usage: Formal; usually used only in writing; unlike the more universal “and”s introduced above, we seldom use 及 with pronouns
- Example Sentence: 我喜歡艾迪瑞德曼及祖迪羅。
- Romanization: ngo5 hei2 fun1 ngaai6 dik6 seoi6 dak1 maan6 kap6 zou2 dik6 lo4
- Meaning: I like Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.
5- 同
Meaning: And
Romanization: tung4
Usage: Informal; more common in spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence: 今晚我同Hagrid食飯。
- Romanization: gam1 maan5 ngo5 tung4 “Hagrid” sik6 faan6
- Meaning: I will be having dinner with Hagrid tonight.
6- 或
Meaning: Or
Romanization: waak6
Usage: More common in written Cantonese
- Example Sentence: 她希望和Ron或Viktor跳舞。
- Romanization: taa1 hei1 mong6 wo4 “Ron” waak6 “Viktor” tiu3 mou5
- Meaning: She is hoping to dance with Ron or Viktor.
7- 或者
Meaning: Or
Romanization: waak6 ze2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 她可能被分到葛來分多、史萊哲林、雷文克勞或者赫夫帕夫。
- Romanization: taa1 ho2 nang4 bei6 fan1 dou3 got3 loi4 fan1 do1, si2 loi4 zit3 lam4, leoi4 man4 hak1 lou4 waak6 ze2 hak1 fu1 paak3 fu1
- Meaning: She might be assigned to Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff.
8- 還是
Meaning: Or
Romanization: waan4 si6
Usage: More common in written Cantonese
- Example Sentence: 你喜歡Ginny還是Cho？
- Romanization: nei5 hei2 fun1 “Ginny” waan4 si6 “Cho”
- Meaning: Do you like Ginny or Cho?
3. Conjunctions to Express Condition (If)
1- 除非
Meaning: Unless
Romanization: ceoi4 fei1
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 除非你來，否則我是不會去的。
- Romanization: ceoi4 fei1 nei5 loi4, fau2 zak1 ngo5 si6 bat1 wui5 heoi3 dik1
- Meaning: I am not going unless you come with me.
2- 如果
Meaning: If
Romanization: jyu4 gwo2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 如果Harry是“那個活下來的女孩”，結果會是甚麼？
- Romanization: jyu4 gwo2 “Harry” si6 “naa5 go3 wut6 haa6 loi4 dik1 neoi5 haai4 ”, git3 gwo2 wui5 si6 sam6 mo1
- Meaning: What would happen if Harry is “the girl who lived?”
3- 即使
Meaning: Even if
Romanization: zik1 si2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 即使下雨我也要去。
- Romanization: zik1 si2 haa6 jyu5 ngo5 jaa5 jiu3 heoi3
- Meaning: I will still go even if it rains.
4- 只要
Meaning: If only
Romanization: zi2 jiu3
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 只要永不放棄就能成功。
- Romanization: zi2 jiu3 wing5 bat1 fong3 hei3 zau6 nang4 sing4 gung1
- Meaning: We can succeed if only we don’t give up.
4. Conjunctions to Express Causality (So)
1- 因為
Meaning: Since
Romanization: jan1 wai6
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese; interchangeable with 由於
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): Vincent和Gregory因為肚餓吃了蛋糕。
- Romanization: “Vincent” wo4 “Gregory” jan1 wai6 tou5 ngo6 hek3 liu5 daan2 gou1
- Meaning: Vincent and Gregory ate the cakes since they were hungry.
2- 由於
Meaning: Since
Romanization: jau4 jyu1
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese; interchangeable with 因為
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 由於他身體不好，所以不能上課。
- Romanization: jau4 jyu1 taa1 san1 tai2 bat1 hou2, so2 ji5 bat1 nang4 soeng5 fo3
- Meaning: He can’t make it to school since he’s ill.
3- 因此
Meaning: So
Romanization: jan1 ci2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 情人節快到了，因此很多人買禮物。
- Romanization: cing4 jan4 zit3 faai3 dou3 liu5, jan1 ci2 han2 do1 jan4 maai5 lai5 mat6
- Meaning: Valentine’s Day is approaching, so a lot of people have bought presents.
4- 於是
Meaning: So
Romanization: jyu1 si6
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 他沒有準時出現，於是我們決定先出發。
- Romanization: taa1 mut6 jau5 zeon2 si4 ceot1 jin6, jyu1 si6 ngo5 mun4 kyut3 ding6 sin1 ceot1 faat3
- Meaning: He didn’t arrive on time, so we decided to head out first.
5. Conjunctions to Express Opposition (But)
1- 但是
Meaning: But
Romanization: daan6 si6
Usage: More common in written Cantonese; interchangeable with 可是
- Example Sentence: 我想看電視，但是還沒有寫完作業。
- Romanization: ngo5 soeng2 hon3 din6 si6, daan6 si6 waan4 mut6 jau5 se2 jyun4 zok3 jip6
- Meaning: I want to watch TV, but I haven’t finished my homework.
2- 可是
Meaning: But
Romanization: ho2 si6
Usage: More common in written Cantonese; interchangeable with 但是
- Example Sentence: 我跟Severus不熟，可是他一直針對我。
- Romanization: ngo5 gan1 “Severus” bat1 suk6, ho2 si6 taa1 jat1 zik6 zam1 deoi3 ngo5
- Meaning: I don’t know Severus well, but he has been picking on me.
3- 但係
Meaning: But
Romanization: daan6 hai6
Usage: Can be used in spoken Cantonese only
- Example Sentence: 但係好貴喎。
- Romanization: daan6 hai6 hou2 gwai3 wo3
- Meaning: But that’s expensive.
4- 不過
Meaning: But
Romanization: bat1 gwo3
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Spoken Cantonese): 個手術好成功，不過病人未醒。
- Romanization: go3 sau2 seot6 hou2 sing4 gung1, bat1 gwo3 beng6 jan4 mei6 seng2
- Meaning: The surgery was successful, but the patient is still unconscious.
5- 雖然
Meaning: Although
Romanization: seoi1 jin4
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 他雖然年紀小，但是跑步卻很快。
- Romanization: taa1 seoi1 jin4 nin4 gei2 siu2, daan6 si6 paau2 bou6 koek3 han2 faai3
- Meaning: Although he is young, he runs fast.
Note: As opposed to English, it’s common to use both “although” and “but” in Cantonese, as demonstrated in the example sentence.
6. Conjunctions to Express Purpose (So that)
1- 以
Meaning: So as to
Romanization: ji5
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 他正在積蓄金錢以備晚年。
- Romanization: taa1 zing3 zoi6 zik1 cuk1 gam1 cin4 ji5 bei6 maan5 nin4
- Meaning: He is saving up so as to prepare for retirement.
2- 為了
Meaning: To
Romanization: wai4 liu5
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 他積極準備是為了順利地通過考試。
- Romanization: taa1 zik1 gik6 zeon2 bei6 si6 wai4 liu5 seon6 lei6 dei6 tung1 gwo3 haau2 si3
- Meaning: He is working hard to pass the exam.
7. Conjunctions to Express Progression (Not only)
1- 不但
Meaning: Not only
Romanization: bat1 daan6
Usage: More common in written Cantonese; interchangeable with 不僅
- Example Sentence: Hedwig不但是我的信使，更是我的朋友。
- Romanization: “Hedwig” bat1 daan6 si6 ngo5 dik1 seon3 si2, gang3 si6 ngo5 dik1 pang4 jau5
- Meaning: Not only does Hedwig deliver my mail, but she is also my friend.
2- 不僅
Meaning: Not only
Romanization: bat1 gan2
Usage: More common in written Cantonese; interchangeable with 不但
- Example Sentence: 不僅他一個人有這種想法。
- Romanization: bat1 gan2 taa1 jat1 go3 jan4 jau5 ze2 zung2 soeng2 faat3
- Meaning: He is not the only one who thinks like that.
3- 而且
Meaning: Also
Romanization: ji4 ce2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Written Cantonese): 我的作業做完了，而且全部正確。
- Romanization: ngo5 dik1 zok3 jip6 zou6 jyun4 liu5, ji4 ce2 cyun4 bou6 zing3 kok3
- Meaning: Not only have I completed all my tasks, but they are also all correct.
4- 況且
Meaning: Additionally; not to mention
Romanization: fong3 ce2
Usage: Can be used in both written and spoken Cantonese
- Example Sentence (in Spoken Cantonese): 送快件太貴喇，況且易碎品嚟㗎喎。
- Romanization: sung3 faai3 gin2 taai3 gwai3 laa3, fong3 ce2 ji6 seoi3 ban2 lei4 gaa3 wo3
- Meaning: Sending a package by carrier is too expensive, and not to mention, this object is very fragile.
8. How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
We hoped you enjoyed learning about Cantonese conjunctions with us. Did you learn something new? Let us know in the comments!
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