V+得...就

Since You Have Gone and Done It

Level 5Sounds Like dak1 . . . zau6

Use V + 得...就 to say 'Since you've already [done X]' or 'If you are going to [do X], you might as well / must [do Y].' It links a past decision, current state, or hypothetical commitment to a logical next step or responsibility.

How It Works

The V + 得 (dak1) ... 就 (zau6) construction is a staple of colloquial Cantonese logic. It is used to emphasize that once a certain threshold has been crossed (an action taken, a promise made, or a situation entered), a specific outcome is now expected or required. It can also mean 'If you are going to [V]...'

1. Structure and Tone
The particle 得 is pronounced in the high entering tone (dak1). While this tone is shared with the Potential and Manner Complement patterns, the grammatical structure here is unique because it functions strictly as a dependent premise clause that cannot be negated. If the verb has an object, it follows 得, such as '做得呢份工，就...' (zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1, zau6... - Since you're doing this job...).

2. Nuance of Commitment and Expected Outcomes
This pattern often carries a tone of pragmatism or accepting consequences. This cultural mindset is perfectly embodied in the classic Cantonese proverb 食得鹹魚抵得渴 (sik6 dak1 haam4 jyu2 dai2 dak1 hot3 - literally 'if you eat salted fish, you must put up with the thirst'), meaning if you choose to do something, you must accept the consequences. Because the first clause establishes a firm premise ('Since you have...' or 'If you are going to...'), the second clause usually has words of expectation, obligation, or resolve. Common collocations include 預咗 (jyu6 zo2 - to expect / be prepared for), 要 (jiu3 - must / need to), 一定 (jat1 ding6 - definitely), or 即係 (zik1 hai6 - it means that) to draw a logical conclusion. Additionally, the second clause often ends with a sentence-final particle like 啦 (laa1), 囉 (lo1), or 㗎 (gaa3) to express expectation, resolve, or stating the obvious, making the sentence sound much more natural.

3. Bare Verbs Only
The verb in this premise pattern must be a bare verb. It cannot take aspect markers (like 咗 zo2, 緊 gan2, 過 gwo3) or resultative complements. The particle 得 must attach directly to the base verb. For example, you cannot say 做咗得呢份工 (zou6 zo2 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1) — it must be 做得呢份工 (zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1).

4. Volitional Verbs Only
This pattern almost exclusively applies to volitional verbs (actions a person actively chooses to take). It sounds unnatural with non-volitional verbs or uncontrollable states. However, strong psychological state verbs like 鍾意 (zung1 ji3 - to like) are a notable exception (e.g., 鍾意得佢，就... zung1 ji3 dak1 keoi5, zau6... - Since you like him, then...).

5. Co-occurrence with 既然
In colloquial Cantonese, this pattern frequently co-occurs with 既然 (gei3 jin4) for added emphasis. When a subject is explicitly stated, it can be placed either before or after 既然 (e.g., 你既然做得呢份工 nei5 gei3 jin4 zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1 / 既然你做得呢份工 gei3 jin4 nei5 zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1). In Standard Written Chinese (SWC), the equivalent is 既然...就... without the 得.

6. Affirmative Only
This premise pattern is almost exclusively affirmative. If you try to negate it (e.g., 唔做得呢份工，就... m4 zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1, zau6...), the meaning defaults to the potential pattern ('If you cannot do this job, then...'). To express a negative premise ('Since you are not...'), you must drop the 得 and use 既然 (gei3 jin4) instead: 既然唔做呢份工，就... (gei3 jin4 m4 zou6 ni1 fan6 gung1, zau6... - Since you are not doing this job, then...).

7. Distinguishing from other 'dak' patterns
Do not confuse this with:

  • V得就V: This visually similar pattern means 'do [V] while you can' (e.g., 走得就走 zau2 dak1 zau6 zau2). Compare the premise pattern 做得呢份工，就... (zou6 dak1 ni1 fan6 gung1, zau6... - Since you are doing this job, then...) with the potential pattern 呢份工做得就做 (ni1 fan6 gung1 zou6 dak1 zau6 zou6 - Do this job while you still can).
  • Potential (V+得): 'Can do' (e.g., 食得 'can eat').
  • Manner Complement (V+得+Adj): 'Doing it well/badly' (e.g., 行得快 'walks fast').

8. Subject Flexibility
The subjects of the two clauses can differ. The person who initiated the premise does not have to be the one dealing with the outcome (e.g., Since you bought it, I will eat it).

9. Time Reference
The premise established by the first clause is flexible in time. It can refer to a completed past action ('Since you already did it...') or a hypothetical future action ('If you are going to do it...').

Examples (6)

  1. 嚟得就預咗要等。

    Since you've come (all this way), you should expect to wait.

    Word by Word: Come [since] then expect [perfective] need wait.

    Here, 嚟 (lai4, to come) is the premise. The speaker implies that waiting is an inevitable part of the decision to come, using 預咗 (jyu6 zo2) to show expectation.

  2. 應承得你就一定會做。

    Since I promised you, I will definitely do it.

    Word by Word: Promise [since] you then definitely will do.

    應承 (jing3 sing4) means to promise. This sentence emphasizes the speaker's integrity—the promise itself necessitates the action, reinforced by 一定 (jat1 ding6).

  3. 打得仗就一定要贏。

    If you're going to fight a war, you must win.

    Word by Word: Fight [since] war then definitely need win.

    This demonstrates the hypothetical or generic conditional nuance. It's not about a past action, but rather 'If you are going to [V]...'

  4. 佢叫得你嚟，就即係有聲氣啦！

    Since he asked you to come, it means there's a good chance!

    Word by Word: He call [since] you come, then exactly-is have sound-breath [particle]!

    This example shows the common collocation with 即係 (zik1 hai6 - it means that) to draw a logical conclusion from the premise.

  5. 既然你入得嚟，就好好運用。

    Since you've managed to get in, make good use of it.

    Word by Word: Since you enter [since] come, then good-good use.

    This shows how the pattern frequently co-occurs with 既然 (gei3 jin4 - since) for added emphasis.

  6. 食得鹹魚就抵得渴啦。

    If you eat salted fish, you must put up with the thirst. (If you make a choice, you must accept the consequences.)

    Word by Word: Eat [since] salted fish then endure [potential] thirst [particle].

    This classic Cantonese proverb is the ultimate cultural embodiment of this pattern's nuance. It perfectly illustrates the pragmatism of accepting the inevitable consequences of your actions. Note that the original proverb uses a parallel 'V得... V得...' structure without '就' (食得鹹魚抵得渴), though '就' is often added in daily speech.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for the hypothetical ‘if I can eat, I will go’.

    Different Meaning我食得就去。
    如果我食得，我就去。

    V+得...就 implies the action is already happening or decided. If you mean a hypothetical 'if I can', use 如果...就... instead.

  • Omitting the 'zau6' (就) anchor.

    嚟得預咗要等。
    嚟得就預咗要等。

    Without 就 (zau6), the sentence feels grammatically incomplete and the logical connection between the premise and the result is weakened.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

V+得...就Level 5Since You Have Gone and Done It

Learn This First

The pattern 'V+得...就' is a specific type of conditional structure. It uses the particle '得' to concede that an action has already been initiated or decided upon, and '就' to introduce the inevitable consequence or obligation that follows. To understand this, learners need to be familiar with basic conditional structures and the various functions of the particle '得' after a verb.

Words in This Pattern