喺...度

Understanding 喺...度
The coverb 喺 (hai2) translates to 'at', 'in', or 'on'. In Cantonese, you cannot place a person, pronoun, demonstrative, or regular inanimate object directly after 喺 to specify a location. Adding the suffix 度 (dou6) turns them into valid locations. Note: You may also hear the variant 處 (syu3 or cyu3) instead of 度. This is a standard, universally understood variant that carries the exact same meaning.

1. With Pronouns and People
When attached to personal pronouns (我/你/佢) or people, 喺...度 means 'at [person]'s place' or 'with [person]'.
• 本書喺佢度。(bun2 syu1 hai2 keoi5 dou6.) = The book is with him.
• 我喺醫生度。(ngo5 hai2 ji1 sang1 dou6.) = I am at the doctor's place.

2. With Demonstratives
To say 'here' or 'there', combine demonstratives (呢/嗰) with 度.
• 喺呢度 (hai2 ni1 dou6) = here / at this place.
• 喺嗰度 (hai2 go2 dou6) = there / at that place.

3. With Regular Inanimate Nouns
When talking about objects, furniture, or vehicles, you add 度 to indicate a generic 'in', 'on', or 'at' that object. If you want to be specific about the position, you would use directional words like 上面 (soeng6 min6, 'on top of') or 入面 (jap6 min6, 'inside of') instead of 度.
• 喺張枱度。(hai2 zoeng1 toi2 dou6.) = At/on the table.
• 喺張枱上面。(hai2 zoeng1 toi2 soeng6 min6.) = On top of the table.
• 喺雪櫃度。(hai2 syut3 gwai6 dou6.) = At/in the fridge.
• 喺雪櫃入面。(hai2 syut3 gwai6 jap6 min6.) = Inside the fridge.

4. Meaning 'Here' or 'Present'
If you use 喺度 without specifying a middle word, it defaults to meaning 'here' or 'present/around'.
• 老細唔喺度。(lou5 sai3 m4 hai2 dou6.) = The boss is not here.
Cultural Note: 唔喺度 (m4 hai2 dou6) is also frequently used as a polite euphemism for someone having passed away (e.g., 佢已經唔喺度 - keoi5 ji5 ging1 m4 hai2 dou6, 'They are no longer with us'). Context usually makes the meaning clear!

5. With Verbs of Motion and Origin
The same rule applies when using directional verbs like 去 (heoi3, 'go') and 嚟 (lei4, 'come'), as well as other spatial prepositions like 由 (jau4, 'from') and 返 (faan1, 'return'). The locative suffix 度 is still required when the destination or origin is a person or object. Note that the verb 返 (faan1) implies returning to a place the subject belongs to, lives at, or just came from, distinguishing it from the generic 'come' (嚟).
• 佢嚟我度。(keoi5 lei4 ngo5 dou6.) = He is coming to my place.
• 由佢度嚟。(jau4 keoi5 dou6 lei4.) = Come from his place.
• 返我度。(faan1 ngo5 dou6.) = Return to my place.

6. As a Progressive Marker
When 喺度 is placed directly before a verb, it acts as a continuous aspect marker, emphasizing the active doing of an action. However, because 喺度 literally means 'here', a sentence like 佢喺度食飯 (keoi5 hai2 dou6 sik6 faan6) can be ambiguous—it could mean 'He is eating here' or 'He is currently eating'. To remove this ambiguity, native speakers frequently pair it with the progressive suffix 緊 (gan2) to form a 'sandwich' structure. For dynamic action verbs, you can often use 喺度..., ...緊, or 喺度...緊 interchangeably. Note that 緊 is a pure progressive marker that can attach to adjectives (e.g., 天氣凍緊 - the weather is getting cold), whereas 喺度 cannot be used with adjectives.
• 我喺度食緊飯。(ngo5 hai2 dou6 sik6 gan2 faan6.) = I am eating right now.

7. With the Question Word 邊 (bin1)
The question word 邊 (bin1, 'which') follows the same rule to create 邊度 (bin1 dou6, 'where'). When asking 'where is...', you use 喺 + 邊度. Note that native speakers frequently drop the 度 when asking a question.
• 你喺邊度呀？ (nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3?) = Where are you?
• 你喺邊呀？ (nei5 hai2 bin1 aa3?) = Where are you? (shorter, very common)

8. Actual Place Nouns
It is important to note that actual place nouns (like 屋企 uk1 kei2 'home', 學校 hok6 haau6 'school', or 香港 hoeng1 gong2 'Hong Kong') do not require the 度 suffix. You simply place them directly after 喺.
• 我喺屋企。(ngo5 hai2 uk1 kei2.) = I am at home. (喺屋企度 is also very common)