點樣

How

Level 1Sounds Like dim2 joeng2

點樣 (dim2 joeng2) is the Cantonese question word for 'how'. Use it before a verb (點樣 + Verb) to ask 'how to do something' (method/manner), or as a predicate (Noun + 點樣) to ask 'how is/was something' (state/condition).

How It Works

1. Asking for Manner or Method (Pre-verbal Adverbial)
When asking how an action should be performed or executed, place 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) immediately before the verb phrase. This follows standard Cantonese word order, where question words stay in place.
Structure: Subject + 點樣 + Verb Phrase
Example: 我哋點樣去機場呀？ (How do we get to the airport?)

2. Asking about State or Condition (Predicate)
To ask how someone is doing, how an event turned out, or what something is like, place 點樣 at the end of the clause as the main predicate or state complement.
Structure: Topic + (係) + 點樣 (+ 呀)
Example: 你呢排點樣呀？ (How have you been recently?)

3. Spoken Pronunciation (Tone Change)
Although the dictionary citation tone of 樣 is Tone 6 (joeng6), spoken Cantonese almost universally applies a tone change to Tone 2 (joeng2), making the standard spoken pronunciation dim2 joeng2.

4. Key Distinctions
• 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) vs. 點解 (dim2 gaai2): 點樣 asks how (manner/state), whereas 點解 asks why (reason/cause).
• 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) vs. 點 (dim2): Monosyllabic 點 is more flexible and can mean 'why / how come' or form fixed idiomatic expressions (like 點算 'what to do' or 點睇 'what do you think?'), where 點樣 is not the usual choice.

Examples (4)

  1. 我哋點樣去機場呀？

    How do we get to the airport?

    Word by Word: We how go airport (softening particle)?

    Placed before the verb 去 (heoi3, 'to go') to ask for the method or route of travel.

  2. 你呢排點樣呀？

    How have you been doing recently?

    Word by Word: You recently how (softening particle)?

    Functions as a predicate asking about state and general well-being.

  3. 呢條問題應該點樣答呀？

    How should this question be answered?

    Word by Word: This classifier question should how answer (softening particle)?

    Placed before the verb 答 (daap3, 'to answer') to ask for the proper method or approach.

  4. 呢道菜點樣做㗎？

    How is this dish made?

    Word by Word: This classifier dish how make (fact+reminder particle)?

    Placed before the verb 做 (zou6, 'to make') to ask for cooking procedures or recipes.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting 點樣 at the end when you want to ask about method.

    Different Meaning我哋去機場點樣呀？
    我哋點樣去機場呀？

    我哋去機場點樣呀 is a natural sentence, but it means 'How about we go to the airport?' and asks for an opinion. To ask how to get there, put 點樣 before the verb: 我哋點樣去機場呀？

  • Confusing 點樣 (dim2 joeng2, 'how') with 點解 (dim2 gaai2, 'why').

    你點樣唔嚟呀？
    你點解唔嚟呀？

    Use 點解 (dim2 gaai2) when asking for a reason ('Why aren't you coming?'). Use 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) when asking for manner or procedure.

  • Pronouncing 樣 with its citation tone (joeng6) instead of applying the spoken tone change.

    點樣 (dim2 joeng6)
    點樣 (dim2 joeng2)

    In natural Cantonese conversation, the character 樣 in 點樣 undergoes a high-rising tone change (變音 bin3 jam1) to Tone 2, so it should be pronounced dim2 joeng2.

How It Connects

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點樣Level 1How

Learn This First

To use '點樣' (how), you need to understand that Cantonese question words remain in the same position as the information they replace (wh-in-situ). You also need a basic grasp of Cantonese word order to place the manner adverb correctly before the verb, and the use of sentence-final particles like '呀' to form natural-sounding questions.

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