啲

Plural Classifier

Level 1Sounds Like di1

啲 (di1) is an essential Cantonese word used in three main ways: as a plural or mass classifier (啲人 di1 jan4 'some/the people'), with demonstratives (呢啲 nei1 di1 'these'), and after adjectives to mean 'a bit more' (快啲 faai3 di1 'faster').

How It Works

The particle 啲 (di1) is one of the most frequently used words in Cantonese speech.

1. Plural and Mass Classifier
When placed before a noun, 啲 functions as a general plural or mass classifier. It fills the classifier position instead of unit classifiers like 個 (go3) or 張 (zoeng1) when referring to multiple items or uncountable quantities.
• 啲車 (di1 ce1) = some cars / the cars
• 啲水 (di1 seoi2) = some water / the water

2. Combining with Demonstratives and Quantifiers
• 呢啲 (nei1 di1) = these
• 嗰啲 (go2 di1) = those
• 一啲 (jat1 di1) = some / a few / a little bit
Note: 一 (jat1, 'one') is the ONLY number that can combine with 啲! You cannot say 兩啲 (loeng5 di1); for specific numbers, use unit classifiers like 兩架車 (loeng5 gaa3 ce1).

3. Possessive Noun Phrases
In possessive structures (Possessor + Classifier + Noun), 啲 occupies the classifier slot to show that the item owned is plural or uncountable, rather than directly replacing the possessive marker 嘅 (ge3):
• 佢本書 (keoi5 bun2 syu1) = his/her book (singular with classifier 本)
• 佢啲書 (keoi5 di1 syu1) = his/her books (plural with classifier 啲)

4. Post-Adjectival Comparative
When placed directly after an adjective, 啲 forms a comparative degree ('a bit more'):
• 平啲 (peng4 di1) = cheaper / a bit cheaper
• 快啲 (faai3 di1) = faster / hurry up!

5. Post-Verbal and Emphatic Structures
• After Verbs: 啲 indicates quantity or softens instructions (e.g., 食啲 sik6 di1 'eat some', 食多啲 sik6 do1 di1 'eat a bit more').
• Emphatic Negation: Combined in 一啲都唔... (jat1 di1 dou1 m4...) = 'not at all...' (e.g., 一啲都唔貴 jat1 di1 dou1 m4 gwai3 'not expensive at all').

Examples (4)

  1. 呢啲車好貴。

    These cars are very expensive.

    Word by Word: These cars very expensive

    Here 呢啲 (nei1 di1) forms the plural demonstrative 'these'.

  2. 我想飲啲水。

    I want to drink some water.

    Word by Word: I want drink some water

    Here 啲 (di1) modifies the mass noun 水 (seoi2, water) to mean 'some water'.

  3. 唔該行快啲啦！

    Please walk a bit faster!

    Word by Word: Please walk fast a-bit [particle]

    Placed after the adjective 快 (faai3, fast), 啲 forms the comparative 'a bit faster'.

  4. 佢啲書喺邊度呀？

    Where are his books?

    Word by Word: He [plural-possessive] book at where [particle]

    Using 啲 after 佢 (keoi5) shows plural possession ('his books').

Common Mistakes

  • Using numbers greater than 1 directly before 啲

    我買咗兩啲蘋果。
    我買咗兩個蘋果。

    Only the number 一 (jat1) can precede 啲 to make 一啲 (jat1 di1). For specific quantities like 2 or more, use regular unit classifiers (e.g., 兩個, 兩架).

  • Attaching 啲 to personal pronouns to mean 'we' or 'they'

    我啲想食飯。
    我哋想食飯。

    To make personal pronouns plural ('we', 'they'), use the plural suffix 哋 (dei6), e.g., 我哋 (ngo5 dei6). 我啲 (ngo5 di1) means 'my (plural items)'.

  • Placing 啲 before adjectives for comparisons like in English 'more fast'

    請你啲快。
    請你快啲。

    In Cantonese, 啲 must be placed AFTER the adjective when forming a comparative ('a bit more'), e.g. 快啲 (faai3 di1).

How It Connects

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啲Level 1Plural Classifier

Learn This First

To understand '啲' as a plural classifier, you first need to understand the basic concept of classifiers in Cantonese. It is also helpful to know how demonstratives (this/that) work, as '啲' is commonly used with them to indicate plural objects.

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