畀

Give

Level 1Sounds Like bei2

畀 (bei2) is one of the most versatile words in Cantonese. Its primary meaning is 'to give', but it also acts as 'to/for', 'let/allow', and 'by' (passive marker).

How It Works

The character 畀 (bei2) is an essential everyday word in spoken Cantonese with four distinct uses:

1. Main Verb ('give')
Pattern: Subject + 畀 + Direct Object (Thing) + Indirect Object (Person)
Unlike Mandarin, Cantonese usually places the object being given before the person receiving it, though 畀我個蘋果 is also heard.
Example: 畀個蘋果我 (bei2 go3 ping4 gwo2 ngo5 - Give the apple to me).

2. Dative Preposition / Coverb ('to / for')
Pattern: Subject + Action Verb + Direct Object + 畀 + Recipient
Example: 我買咗份禮物畀你 (ngo5 maai5 zo2 fan6 lai5 mat6 bei2 nei5 - I bought a gift for you).

3. Causative Verb ('let / allow')
Pattern: Subject + 畀 + Person + Action Verb
Example: 畀我睇下 (bei2 ngo5 tai2 haa5 - Let me have a look).

Note: 畀 can take aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) when functioning as a main verb ('give') or a causative verb ('let/allow'), but not when functioning as a dative preposition ('to/for') or passive marker ('by').

4. Passive Marker ('by')
Pattern: Receiver + 畀 + Agent + Action Verb
Example: 碗飯畀隻狗食咗 (wun2 faan6 bei2 zek3 gau2 sik6 zo2 - The rice was eaten by the dog).
Important rule: Unlike Mandarin 被 (bèi), Cantonese passive 畀 cannot stand alone without an agent. Use 畀人 ('someone/people') if the performer is unknown.

Examples (5)

  1. 畀個蘋果我。

    Give me the apple.

    Word by Word: Give classifier apple me.

    Notice the word order: 畀 (give) + 個蘋果 (apple) + 我 (me). The item comes before the person receiving it.

  2. 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, 畀 (bei2) acts as a coverb introducing the beneficiary/recipient 你 (you).

  3. 畀我睇下。

    Let me have a look.

    Word by Word: Let me look a bit.

    When followed by a person and a verb, 畀 (bei2) acts as a causative verb meaning 'let' or 'allow'.

  4. 部電話畀我打破咗。

    The phone was broken by me.

    Word by Word: Classifier phone by me break perfective.

    Here 畀 (bei2) introduces the agent 我 (me) in a passive sentence structure.

  5. 佢畀人打咗一餐。

    He was beaten up by someone.

    Word by Word: He by someone hit perfective one meal.

    Because passive 畀 requires an agent, 人 (jan4 - someone) must be inserted when the specific doer is unknown.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the recipient before the item.

    Different Meaning畀我嗰本書。
    畀嗰本書我。

    畀我嗰本書 is natural too. Both orders are common: 畀嗰本書我 (item first) and 畀我嗰本書 (recipient first). Pick either.

  • Omitting the agent in a passive sentence.

    佢畀打。
    佢畀人打。

    In Cantonese, passive 畀 cannot be followed directly by a verb. If the doer is generic or unknown, you must insert 人 (jan4 - someone).

How It Connects

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畀Level 1Give

Learn This First

To use the verb '畀' (give), learners need to understand basic Cantonese word order, especially how to handle direct and indirect objects. They also need basic pronouns to identify people involved and the counting frame to specify the items being given.

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