得（只有）

Only That Much

Level 3Sounds Like dak1

Use 得 (dak1) before a number, time, or noun to emphasize that the amount is small, insufficient, or 'only' that much. It often functions like 'there is only' or 'only have'.

How It Works

In Cantonese, 得 (dak1) is a highly frequent colloquial particle. While it has many functions (like permission or manner), when placed before a noun or quantity, it means 'only'.

1. Restrictive Quantity
It is the most natural way to say 'only' when talking about numbers, ages, or prices. For example, 'I only have $10' or 'He is only five years old'. It is often paired with the particle 咋 (zaa3) at the end of the sentence for emphasis.

2. Restricting the Subject
Unlike many other 'only' words, 得 (dak1) can be used to restrict the subject of a sentence. For example, 得我知 (dak1 ngo5 zi1) means 'Only I know'. In this usage, it implies 'there is only me who knows'.

3. Existence and Possession
It often replaces 有 (jau5) to mean 'there is only' or 'only have'. You do not usually need to say '得有'; 得 (dak1) carries the meaning of 'have' by itself in this context.

4. Contrast with 淨係 (zing6 hai6)
While 得 (dak1) focuses on existence and quantity, 淨係 (zing6 hai6) is used to restrict actions or categories. For example, to say 'I only eat apples', you would use 淨係, but to say 'There are only apples', you use 得.

5. Common Combination: 得返 (dak1 faan1)
It is very common to see it paired with the particle 返 (faan1) to mean 'only... left' or 'only... remains'.

6. Register Note
This is a strictly spoken Cantonese feature. In formal writing, you would use 只有 (zi2 jau5) or 僅 (gan2).

Examples (4)

  1. 我得五蚊咋。

    I only have five dollars.

    Word by Word: I only five dollar [particle].

    Here, 得 (dak1) emphasizes that five dollars is a small amount. It is paired with the particle 咋 (zaa3) which also means 'only'.

  2. 呢度得返三個人。

    There are only three people left here.

    Word by Word: This place only remains three [classifier] people.

    得返 (dak1 faan1) is used to show that only a small number of people remain.

  3. 佢得嗰十歲，唔識煮飯㗎。

    He is only ten years old; he doesn't know how to cook.

    Word by Word: He only that ten years-old, not know cook rice [particle].

    得 (dak1) is used here to emphasize his young age. The word 嗰 (go2) is often added before the number for extra emphasis.

  4. 得返十分鐘，快啲啦！

    There are only ten minutes left, hurry up!

    Word by Word: Only remains ten minutes, fast [bit] [particle]!

    得 (dak1) is used with time to show that the duration is short or insufficient.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 得 (dak1) to restrict actions instead of quantities.

    我得食菜。
    我淨係食菜。

    得 (dak1) is not the usual way to say 'only' before a verb (e.g., 'I only eat'). Use 淨係 (zing6 hai6) for restricting actions. 得 (dak1) is for amounts.

  • Using 食得 (sik6 dak1) when you mean 'only have'.

    Different Meaning我食得三碗飯。
    我得三碗飯食。

    我食得三碗飯 is a normal sentence meaning 'I can eat three bowls of rice' (potential 得 after the verb). To mean 'I only have three bowls to eat', put 得 (dak1) before the quantity: 我得三碗飯食.

How It Connects

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得（只有）Level 3Only That Much

Learn This First

To use '得' to mean 'only', you need to be comfortable with Cantonese counting structures (Number + Classifier + Noun) because this '得' specifically modifies quantities. It also helps to understand existential 'there is' sentences and the verbal particle '返' (meaning 'back' or 'remaining'), as they often appear together in this context.

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Patterns that build on this one.