哋
Pronoun Plural Suffix
In Cantonese, 哋 (dei6) is the suffix added to personal pronouns to make them plural: 我哋 (we/us), 你哋 (you all), and 佢哋 (they/them).
How It Works
In Cantonese, 哋 (dei6) is the plural suffix added to personal pronouns. Unlike English where each plural pronoun is a unique word (I -> we, you -> you all, he/she/it -> they), Cantonese forms plurals logically by attaching 哋 to the basic pronouns:
- 我 (ngo5, I) + 哋 = 我哋 (ngo5 dei6, we / us)
- 你 (nei5, you) + 哋 = 你哋 (nei5 dei6, you all)
- 佢 (keoi5, he/she/it) + 哋 = 佢哋 (keoi5 dei6, they / them)
Crucial Rule: Do NOT attach 哋 to Nouns!
Unlike Mandarin (which allows 學生們) or English (-s), Cantonese 哋 does not normally attach directly to common nouns (學生哋 is not the standard way to say 'the students'). To pluralize nouns, use the plural classifier 啲 (di1) before the noun (e.g. 啲學生 = the students).
Extended Uses:
- Associative Plural (Name + 佢哋): Placing 佢哋 after a proper name or title means '[Name] and their group/friends/family' (e.g., 阿明佢哋 aa3 ming4 keoi5 dei6 = Ah Ming and his group).
- Indefinite / Self Pronoun (人哋): The compound 人哋 (jan4 dei6) literally means 'other people', but can pragmatically refer to a specific third person ('he/she') or coyly to oneself ('me').
Tone Warning: 哋 as a pronoun plural suffix is Tone 6 (dei6). Do not confuse it with Tone 2 (dei2), which attaches to reduplicated adjectives to mean 'a bit' (e.g., 傻傻哋 so4 so4 dei2, a bit silly).
Examples (4)
- 我哋今晚去食飯。
We are going to eat dinner tonight.
Word by Word: We tonight go eat meal.
我哋 (ngo5 dei6) combines 我 (I) and 哋 (plural suffix) to mean 'we' or 'us'.
- 你哋聽日得唔得閒呀？
Are you guys free tomorrow?
Word by Word: You (plural) tomorrow free-not-free SFP?
你哋 (nei5 dei6) turns the singular 'you' into 'you all' or 'you guys'.
- 啲學生走咗，但係佢哋留低咗啲書。
The students left, but they left behind some books.
Word by Word: PL-CL student leave PERF, but third-person-PL leave down PERF PL-CL book.
Notice that 啲 (di1) pluralizes the noun 'students', whereas 佢哋 (keoi5 dei6) is the pronoun 'they'.
- 阿明佢哋去咗睇戲。
Ah Ming and his friends went to watch a movie.
Word by Word: Ah Ming third-person-PL go PERF watch movie.
Attaching 佢哋 after a name forms an associative plural meaning 'Ah Ming and his group'.
Common Mistakes
Attaching 哋 directly to common human nouns to pluralize them
學生哋去咗睇戲。啲學生去咗睇戲。In Cantonese, 哋 (dei6) cannot attach to common nouns like 'students' or 'friends'. Use the plural classifier 啲 (di1) before the noun instead.
Placing 啲 before personal pronouns to mean 'we' or 'you all'
啲我去食飯。我哋去食飯。To pluralize personal pronouns, attach 哋 (dei6) after the pronoun (我哋). Placing 啲 before a pronoun or saying 我啲 means 'my things', not 'we'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand how to form plural pronouns like 'we', 'you all', or 'they', you first need to know the basic singular pronouns (I, you, he/she). Since this suffix is specific to pronouns and not nouns, knowing the base forms is the only functional requirement.
- 我/你/佢Basic Pronouns
The suffix 哋 is specifically used to pluralize these basic pronouns, so you must know the singular forms first.
Level 1 - Written Cantonese
The character 哋 is a specific written Cantonese character not used in standard written Chinese, so understanding the concept of written Cantonese is helpful.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- 啲Plural Classifier
The pre-nominal plural classifier used to make nouns plural, contrasting with post-nominal 哋 used for pronouns.
Level 1 - 啲 + NounThe (Plural)
The correct pattern for pluralizing nouns in Cantonese, where 哋 cannot be used.
Level 2 - Name + 佢哋X and Company
An associative plural pattern using 佢哋 after a proper name to mean '[Name] and company'.
Level 3 - 人哋Other People
A lexicalized compound with 哋 meaning 'other people' or used colloquially for a third person / oneself.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice 哋 in Bubblegum
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