畀（受益）

For (Someone)

Level 2Sounds Like bei2

Use 畀 (bei2) after a verb and its object to show who receives the result of a transfer. Note that this marks the recipient ('to' someone), not the person you are helping ('on behalf of' someone).

How It Works

In Cantonese, when you perform an action that results in a transfer—whether physical or abstract—you use 畀 (bei2) to mark the recipient.

Key characteristics include:

  • Character Variants: While 畀 is the traditional character for this function, you will very frequently see the variant 俾 (bei2) used in digital messaging and many textbooks. Both are pronounced the same and serve the same purpose.
  • Recipient vs. Beneficiary: To offer help or take over a task for someone (e.g., opening a door for them), 幫 (bong1) is the usual word. 畀 fits best when something is being given, sent or prepared for a person.
  • Post-verbal Position: Unlike Mandarin, the Cantonese 畀 follows the verb and its direct object (e.g., 買件衫畀佢 maai5 gin6 saam1 bei2 keoi5 - 'buy a shirt for/to him').
  • Common Verbs: It is used with verbs of transfer like 買 (maai5, 'buy'), 送 (sung3, 'give as a gift'), or 寄 (gei3, 'mail'). For communication, the verb 講 (gong2, 'tell') is often used in the specific pattern 講畀...聽 (gong2 bei2... teng1, literally 'speak for... to hear').
  • Other Functions: Be aware that 畀 has other roles you will encounter later, such as the passive marker ('by') and the causative marker ('let/allow').

Examples (4)

  1. 我買咗份禮物畀你。

    I bought a gift for you.

    Word by Word: I buy [perfective] [classifier] gift for you.

    Here, 咗 (zo2) marks the completed action, and 畀 (bei2) introduces the recipient of the gift.

  2. 唔該打個電話畀我。

    Please give me a phone call.

    Word by Word: Please hit [classifier] phone-call to me.

    In this request, 畀 (bei2) indicates that the phone call should be directed 'to' the speaker.

  3. 佢講咗個秘密畀我聽。

    He told a secret to me.

    Word by Word: He tell [perfective] [classifier] secret for me hear.

    This is a common construction: 講畀...聽 (gong2 bei2... teng1), literally 'tell for me to hear.'

  4. 我想寄封信畀阿媽。

    I want to mail a letter to my mom.

    Word by Word: I want mail [classifier] letter to Mom.

    The verb 寄 (gei3, 'to mail') uses 畀 (bei2) to name the recipient of the letter.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting 畀 (bei2) before the verb when you mean ‘for you’.

    Different Meaning我畀你買嘢。
    我買嘢畀你。

    我畀你買嘢 is a good sentence, but it means ‘I let you buy things’. To say you buy things for someone, put 畀 after the verb: 我買嘢畀你.

  • Treating 我開門畀你 as the only way to say you open the door for someone.

    Different Meaning我開門畀你。
    我幫你開門。

    我開門畀你 is natural: 畀你 marks who benefits. 我幫你開門 puts the focus on helping, like doing a favour with 幫 (bong1). Both are fine.

How It Connects

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畀（受益）Level 2For (Someone)

Learn This First

To understand the benefactive use of 畀 (meaning 'for someone'), learners first need to be familiar with its more literal meanings as the verb 'to give' and the recipient marker 'to'. They also need to understand basic Cantonese word order, as this specific benefactive construction follows the verb, unlike other 'for' markers which typically precede it.

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