Verbs are essential in a language—they describe actions or talk about something that happens.
The more Cantonese verbs you know, the easier it will be for you to master the Cantonese language as a whole. Can’t wait to learn the most common Cantonese verbs? Check out our short guide to verbs in Cantonese below, study our Cantonese verbs list, and let CantoneseClass101.com give you a helping hand!
Table of Contents
- Cantonese Verbs Overview
- Action Verbs
- Helping Verbs
- Linking Verbs
- Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
1. Cantonese Verbs Overview
Unlike many other languages around the globe, Cantonese verbs by themselves indicate no tense. Generally, the timing of a particular event is expressed through the addition of time-establishing adverbs, though there are some situations when the timing is expressed largely through contextual clues and other indicators reliant on the interpretation of the meaning. By adding particles to the sentence, it can be turned into a question or more clearly demonstrate the mood, attitude, and intention of the speaker.
Note that there are written and spoken Cantonese verbs. We’ve used symbols to help you identify which ones are written (w), spoken (s), or applicable to both (ws).
2. Action Verbs
| # | Meaning | Chinese Characters | Romanization | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | go | 去 (ws) | heoi3 | 直去 zik6 heoi3 go straight ahead |
| 2 | eat | 食 (s) | sik6 | 一家人食早餐。 jat1 gaa1 jan4 sik6 zou2 caan1 The family eats breakfast. |
| 3 | 吃 (w) | hek3 | 一家人吃早餐。 jat1 gaa1 jan4 hek3 zou2 caan1 The family eats breakfast. | |
| 4 | drink | 飲 (s) | jam2 | 飲樽裝飲品 jam2 zeon1 zon1 jam2 ban2 drink from a plastic bottle |
| 5 | 喝 (w) | hot3 | 喝樽裝飲品 hot3 zeon1 zon1 jam2 ban2 drink from a plastic bottle | |
| 6 | walk | 行 (s) | haan4 | 女孩行近攝錄機。 neoi5 haai4 haan4 kan5 sip3 luk6 gei1 The girl walks towards the video camera. |
| 7 | 走 (w) | zau2 | 女孩走近攝錄機。 neoi5 haai4 zau2 gan6 sip3 luk6 gei1 The girl walks towards the video camera. | |
| 8 | sleep | 瞓覺 (s) | fan3 gaau3 | BB喺氈上瞓覺。 bi4 bi1 hai2 zin1 soeng6 fan3 gaau3 The baby sleeps on the blanket. |
| 9 | 睡覺 (w) | seoi6 gaau3 | 嬰兒在氈上睡覺。 jing1 ji4 zoi6 zin1 soeng6 seoi6 gaau3 The baby sleeps on the blanket. | |
| 10 | understand | 明 (s) | ming4 | 我明。 ngo5 ming4 I understand. |
| 11 | 理解 (w) | lei5 gaai2 | 我理解。 ngo5 lei5 gaai2 I understand. | |
| 12 | ask | 問 (ws) | man6 | 大學生問教授問題。 daai6 hok6 sang1 man6 gaau3 sau6 man6 tai4 The university student asks the professor a question. |
| 13 | run | 跑 (ws) | paau2 | 我跑。 ngo5 paau2 I run. |
| 14 | think | 諗 (s) | lam2 | 女人諗答案。 neoi5 jan2 lam2 daap3 on3 The woman thinks about the answer. |
| 15 | 想 (w) | soeng2 | 女人想答案。 neoi5 jan2 soeng2 daap3 on3 The woman thinks about the answer. | |
| 16 | know | 認識 (ws) | jing6 sik1 | 認識自己 jing6 sik1 zi6 gei2 know yourself |
| 17 | help | 幫 (ws) | bong1 | 我幫媽媽洗碗。 ngo5 bong1 maa4 maa1 sai2 wun2 I help my mum wash the dishes. |
| 18 | take | 拎 (s) | ling1 | 啲人拎咗士多啤梨。 di1 jan4 ling1 zo2 si6 do1 be1 lei2 The people took the strawberries. |
| 19 | 拿 (w) | naa4 | 人們拿了士多啤梨。 jan4 mun4 naa4 liu5 si6 do1 be1 lei2 The people took the strawberries. | |
| 20 | use | 用 (ws) | jung6 | 程式設計員用電腦。 cing4 sik1 cit3 gai3 jyun4 jung6 din6 nou5 The programmer uses the computer. |
| 21 | work | 做嘢 (s) | zou6 je5 | 女人喺辦公室做緊嘢。 neoi5 jan2 hai2 baan6 gung1 sat1 zou6 gan2 je5 The woman is working at the office. |
| 22 | 工作 (w) | gung1 zok3 | 女人正在辦公室工作。 neoi5 jan2 zing3 zoi6 baan6 gung1 sat1 gung1 zok3 The woman is working at the office. | |
| 23 | give | 畀 (s) | bei2 | 老豆畀硬幣個仔。 lou5 dau6 bei2 ngaang6 bai6 go3 zai2 The father gives coins to his son. |
| 24 | 給 (w) | kap1 | 父親給兒子硬幣。 fu6 can1 kap1 ji4 zi2 ngaang6 bai6 The father gives coins to his son. | |
| 25 | talk | 講 (s) | gong2 | 你講咩？ nei5 gong2 me1 What are you talking about? |
| 26 | 說 (w) | syut3 | 你說甚麼？ nei5 syut3 sam6 mo1 What are you talking about? | |
| 27 | begin | 開始 (ws) | hoi1 ci2 | 重新開始 cung4 san1 hoi1 ci2 begin again |
| 28 | watch | 睇 (s) | tai2 | 遊客睇日落。 jau4 haak3 tai2 jat6 lok6 The tourists watch the sunset. |
| 29 | 看 (w) | hon3 | 遊客看日落。 jau4 haak3 hon3 jat6 lok6 The tourists watch the sunset. | |
| 30 | leave | 離開 (ws) | lei6 hoi1 | 離開公司 lei6 hoi1 gung1 si1 leave a company |
| 31 | become | 變為 (ws) | bin3 wai4 | 變為蝴蝶 bin3 wai4 wu4 dip2 become a butterfly |
| 32 | hear | 聽 (s)* *same character but different pronunciation | teng1 | 我聽到。 ngo5 teng1 dou2 I heard. |
| 33 | 聽 (w)* *same character but different pronunciation | ting3 | 我聽見。 ngo5 ting3 gin3 I heard. | |
| 34 | wait | 等 (ws) | dang2 | 遊客等火車。 jau4 haak3 dang2 fo2 ce1 The traveler waits for the train. |
| 35 | play | 玩 (s)* *same character but different pronunciation | waan2 | 我要玩。 ngo5 jiu3 waan2 I need to play. |
| 36 | 玩 (w)* *same character but different pronunciation | wun6 | 我要玩。 ngo5 jiu3 wun6 I need to play. | |
| 37 | call | 打 (ws) | daa2 | 打電話 daa2 din6 waa2 make a phone call |
| 38 | remember | 記得 (ws) | gei3 dak1 | 我記得你。 ngo5 gei3 dak1 nei5 I remember you. |
| 39 | believe | 相信 (ws) | soeng1 seon3 | 我相信你。 ngo5 soeng1 seon3 nei5 I believe you. |
| 40 | like | 鍾意 (s) | zung6 ji3 | 我鍾意睇日落。 ngo5 zung1 ji3 tai2 jat6 lok6 I like watching the sunset. |
| 41 | 喜歡 (w) | hei2 fun1 | 我喜歡看日落。 ngo5 hei2 fun1 hon3 jat6 lok6 I like watching the sunset. | |
| 42 | cancel | 取消 (ws) | ceoi2 siu1 | 取消會議 ceoi2 siu1 wui6 ji5 cancel the meeting |
| 43 | arrive | 到 (ws) | dou3 | 到了公園 dou3 liu5 gung1 jyun2 arrive at the park |
| 44 | die | 死 (s) | sei2 | 佢舊年因為意外死咗。 keoi5 gau6 nin2 jan1 wai6 ji3 ngoi6 sei2 zo2 He died in an accident last year. |
| 45 | 去世 (w) | heoi3 sai3 | 他去年在意外中去世。 taa1 heoi3 nin4 zoi6 ji3 ngoi6 zung1 heoi3 sai3 He died in an accident last year. | |
| 46 | rest | 休息 (ws) | jau1 sik1 | 我要休息。 ngo5 jiu3 jau1 sik1 I need to rest. |
| 47 | cook | 煮 (ws) | zyu2 | 廚房煮食 cyu4 fong2 zyu2 sik6 cook in a kitchen |
| 48 | feel | 覺得 (ws) | gok3 dak1 | 男孩覺得難過。 naam4 haai4 gok3 dak1 naan4 gwo3 The boy is feeling sad. |
| 49 | draw | 畫畫 (ws) | waat6 waa2 | 我要畫畫。 ngo5 jiu3 waat6 waa2 I need to draw. |
| 50 | answer | 回答 (ws) | wui4 daap3 | 回答問題 wui4 daap3 man6 tai4 answer questions |
| 51 | receive | 收 (ws) | sau1 | 男人收錢。 naam4 jan2 sau1 cin2 The man receives money. |
| 52 | plan | 計劃 (ws) | gai3 waak6 | 計劃預算 gai3 waak6 jyu6 syun3 plan the budget |
| 53 | explain | 解釋 (ws) | gaai2 sik1 | 教授解釋圖表。 gaau3 sau6 gaai2 sik1 tou4 biu2 The professor explains the diagram. |
| 54 | jump | 跳 (ws) | tiu3 | 能跳過 nang4 tiu3 gwo3 can jump over |
| 55 | teach | 教 (ws) | gaau3 | 老師教英文。 lou5 si1 gaau3 jing1 man2 The teacher taught English. |
| 56 | close | 閂 (s) | saan1 | 大學生閂門。 daai6 hok6 saan1 saan1 mun4 The university student closes the door. |
| 57 | 關 (w) | gwaan1 | 大學生關門。 daai6 hok6 saan1 gwaan1 mun4 The university student closes the door. | |
| 58 | buy | 買 (ws) | maai5 | 情侶買衣服。 cing4 leoi5 maai5 ji1 fuk6 The couple buys clothes. |
| 59 | read | 讀 (ws) | duk6 | 讀雜誌 duk6 zaap6 zi3 read a magazine |
| 60 | wake up | 醒 (s)* *same character but different pronunciation | seng2 | 我醒啦。 ngo5 seng2 laa1 I woke up. |
| 61 | 醒 (w)* *same character but different pronunciation | sing2 | 我醒來。 ngo5 sing2 loi4 I woke up. | |
| 62 | return | 返 (s) | faan2 | 我返屋企。 ngo5 faan2 uk1 kei2 I return home. |
| 63 | 回 (w) | wui4 | 我回家。 ngo5 wui4 gaa1 I return home. | |
| 64 | kick | 踢 (ws) | tek3 | 踢波 tek3 bo1 kick the ball |
| 65 | sell | 賣 (ws) | maai6 | 賣電腦 maai6 din6 nou5 sell the computer |
| 66 | invite | 邀請 (ws) | jiu1 cing2 | 我想邀請你。 ngo5 soeng2 jiu1 cing2 nei5 I want to invite you. |
| 67 | write | 寫 (ws) | se2 | 我寫。 ngo5 se2 I will write. |
| 68 | study | 學 (ws) | hok6 | 我學廣東話。 ngo5 hok6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 I learn Cantonese. |
| 69 | find | 搵 (s) | wan2 | 我搵你。 ngo5 wan2 nei5 I will find you. |
| 70 | 找 (w) | zaau2 | 我找你。 ngo5 zaau2 nei5 I will find you. | |
| 71 | solve | 解決 (ws) | gaai2 kyut3 | 解決問題 gaai2 kyut3 man6 tai4 solve problems |
| 72 | introduce | 介紹 (ws) | gaai3 siu6 | 介紹廣東話 gaai3 siu6 gwong2 dung1 waa2 introduce Cantonese |
| 73 | share | 分享 (ws) | fan1 hoeng2 | 分享意見 fan1 hoeng2 ji3 gin3 share one’s view |
| 74 | sit | 坐 (s)* *same character but different pronunciation | co5 | 我坐。 ngo5 co5 I will sit. |
| 75 | 坐 (w)* *same character but different pronunciation | zo6 | 我坐。 ngo5 zo6 I will sit. | |
| 76 | participate | 參加 (ws) | caam1 gaa1 | 參加比賽 caam1 gaa1 bei2 coi3 participate in a competition |
| 77 | sing | 唱 (ws) | coeng3 | 唱歌 coeng3 go1 sing a song |
| 78 | smile | 笑 (ws) | siu3 | 我笑緊。 ngo5 siu3 gan2 I am smiling. |
| 79 | cry | 喊 (s) | haam3 | 我喊緊。 ngo5 haam3 gan2 I am crying. |
| 80 | 哭 (w) | huk1 | 我在哭。 ngo5 zoi6 huk1 I am crying. | |
| 81 | make | 整 (s) | zing2 | 我整鞋。 ngo5 zing2 haai4 I make shoes. |
| 82 | 製造 (w) | zai3 zou6 | 我製造鞋。 ngo5 zai3 zou6 haai4 I make shoes. | |
| 83 | lie | 呃 (s) | aak1 | 我知道你呃我。 ngo5 zi1 dou3 nei5 aak1 ngo5 I know you lied to me. |
| 84 | 欺騙 (w) | hei1 pin3 | 我知道你欺騙我。 ngo5 zi1 dou3 nei5 hei1 pin3 ngo5 I know you lied to me. | |
| 85 | hate | 憎 (ws) | zang1 | 我憎你。 ngo5 zang1 nei5 I hate you. |
| 86 | afraid | 怕 (ws) | paa3 | 我怕你。 ngo5 paa3 nei5 I am afraid of you. |
3. Helping Verbs
| # | Meaning | Chinese Characters | Romanization | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | have | 有 (ws) | jau5 | 我有三隻狗。 ngo5 jau5 saam1 zek3 gau2 I have three dogs. |
| 88 | not have | 冇 (s) | mou5 | 我冇錢。 ngo5 mou5 cin2 I don’t have money. |
| 89 | 沒有(w) | mut6 jau5 | 我沒有錢。 ngo5 mut6 jau5 cin2 I don’t have money. | |
| 90 | can | 識 (s) | sik1 | 我識彈琴。 ngo5 sik1 taan4 kam4 I can play the piano. |
| 91 | need | 要 (ws) | jiu3 | 我要去夏威夷。 ngo5 jiu3 heoi3 haa6 wai1 ji4 I need to go to Hawaii. |
| 92 | want | 想 (ws) | haan4 | 我想飲咖啡。 ngo5 soeng2 jam2 gaa3 fe1 I want to drink coffee. |
| 93 | do | 做 (ws) | zou6 | 做功課 zou6 gung1 fo3 do homework |
| 94 | should | 應該 (ws) | jing1 goi1 | 我應該問問題。 ngo5 jing1 goi1 man6 man6 tai4 I should ask questions. |
| 95 | willing to | 肯 (s) | hang2 | 我肯講廣東話。 ngo5 hang2 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2 I am willing to speak Cantonese. |
| 96 | 願意 (w) | jyun6 ji3 | 我願意講廣東話。 ngo5 jyun6 ji3 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2 I am willing to speak Cantonese. |
4. Linking Verbs
| # | Meaning | Chinese Characters | Romanization | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | be | 係 (s) | hai6 | 我係Olivia。 ngo5 hai6 Olivia I am Olivia. |
| 98 | 是 (w) | si6 | 我是Olivia。 ngo5 si6 Olivia I am Olivia. | |
| 99 | not be | 唔係 (s) | m4 hai6 | 我唔係男人。 ngo5 m4 hai6 naam4 jan2 I’m not a guy. |
| 100 | 不是 (w) | bat1 si6 | 我不是男人。 ngo5 bat1 si6 naam4 jan2 I’m not a guy. |
5. Conclusion: How CantoneseClass101.com Can Help You Learn More Cantonese
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Before you go, let us know in the comments if there’s a verb in Cantonese you still want to know, or if you’re still struggling with anything we covered in this article. We look forward to hearing from you!
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