次
Verbal Classifier: Times
次 (ci3) is the standard way to say 'times' in Cantonese. It follows a verb to count how many times that action has happened.
How It Works
1. Basic Structure
The pattern follows the format: Verb + (Aspect Marker) + Number + 次 (ci3). Common aspect markers used with this include 咗 (zo2) for completed actions and 過 (gwo3) for past experiences.
2. Counting 'Two'
When you want to say 'twice' or 'two times,' you must use 兩 (loeng5) instead of 二 (ji6). For example: 兩次 (loeng5 ci3).
3. Word Order with Objects
Cantonese is flexible with where the count goes when there is a noun object:
- Verb + Count + Object: 去過兩次日本 (Went twice to Japan)
- Verb + Object + Count: 去過日本兩次 (Went to Japan twice) - This is very common in natural speech.
CRITICAL RULE: If the object is a pronoun (me, you, him, etc.), the count must come after the pronoun. For example: 搵佢三次 (wan2 keoi5 saam1 ci3) - 'Looked for him three times.'
4. Nuance vs. Other Classifiers
次 (ci3) is generic. If you want to emphasize doing something from start to finish (like reading a whole book), you might use 遍 (pin3). If the action is very brief or sudden (like a knock), you use 下 (haa5).
Examples (4)
- 我食過兩次呢間餐廳。
I have eaten at this restaurant twice.
Word by Word: I eat (experience) two times this (classifier) restaurant.
Uses 過 (gwo3) to show past experience, followed by the count 兩次 (loeng5 ci3).
- 佢琴日打咗三次電話畀我。
He called me three times yesterday.
Word by Word: He yesterday hit (completed) three times telephone to me.
Here, the count 三次 (saam1 ci3) is placed before the object 'telephone'.
- 我搵咗你兩次你都唔喺度。
I looked for you twice, but you weren't here.
Word by Word: I find (completed) you two times you also not at here.
Because 'you' (你 nei5) is a pronoun, the count 兩次 (loeng5 ci3) must follow it.
- 呢套戲我睇咗三次。
I have watched this movie three times.
Word by Word: This (classifier) movie I watch (completed) three times.
A common sentence structure where the object is moved to the front for emphasis.
Common Mistakes
Using 'ji6' instead of 'loeng5' for 'two times'.
我去過二次。我去過兩次。When using classifiers (both nominal and verbal), 'two' is almost always 兩 (loeng5).
Placing the count before a pronoun object.
我搵過三次佢。我搵過佢三次。In Cantonese, if the object is a pronoun like 佢 (keoi5), the frequency count must come after it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand '次' (ci3), you need to be familiar with the general concept of classifiers in Cantonese. Since '次' is used to count how many times an action occurs, it follows a similar word order to noun classifiers but appears after the verb. Knowledge of the perfective aspect '咗' is also helpful, as counting occurrences often refers to completed actions.
- 咗Perfective Aspect
The perfective aspect marker '咗' is frequently used with '次' to indicate how many times an action has been completed.
Level 1 - Counting frame
The basic structure for counting nouns provides the grammatical foundation for the word order used when counting actions with verbal classifiers.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- 下Verbal Classifier: A Brief Instance
Another verbal classifier used specifically for brief, sudden, or light actions rather than generic occurrences.
Level 3 - 二/兩Two
Explains the difference between 'ji6' and 'loeng5', which is crucial when counting 'two times'.
Level 1 - 過（經驗）Experiential Aspect
Often used with 'ci3' to describe how many times one has experienced an action in the past.
Level 2 - Classifier Basics
Provides the foundational concept of how measure words work in Cantonese.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice 次 in Bubblegum
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