V+定

Do It in Advance

Level 3Sounds Like ding6

Use V + 定 (ding6) to say you are doing something 'in advance' or 'beforehand' to be ready for later.

How It Works

The verbal suffix 定 (ding6) is a phase marker that signals readiness. It is extremely common in colloquial Cantonese.

1. Meaning and Nuance
While 先 (sin1) simply means doing something 'first' in a sequence, 定 (ding6) specifically emphasizes preparation. For example, 買先 (maai5 sin1) means 'buy first (before doing something else)', whereas 買定 (maai5 ding6) means 'buy in advance (so we have it ready)'.

2. Word Order
It must follow the verb immediately. If there is an object, 定 (ding6) sits between the verb and the object:

  • 買 (maai5) + 定 (ding6) + 飛 (fei1) = 買定飛 (buy tickets in advance)

3. Usage with other markers
It can co-occur with the perfective marker 咗 (zo2) to show that the preparatory action is already finished: 我買定咗飛喇 (I have already bought the tickets in advance).

4. Common Verbs
It is most frequently used with action verbs like 諗 (nam2; think), 準備 (zeon2 bei6; prepare), 買 (maai5; buy), 煮 (zyu2; cook), or 攞 (lo2; take/bring).

Examples (4)

  1. 你諗定想食乜嘢未呀？

    Have you thought (in advance) about what you want to eat yet?

    Word by Word: you think-advance want eat what-thing not-yet [particle]?

    Here, 諗定 (nam2 ding6) implies thinking about the choice now so that you are ready to order later.

  2. 記得帶定把遮，費事落雨。

    Remember to bring an umbrella in advance, just in case it rains.

    Word by Word: remember bring-advance [classifier] umbrella, avoid fall-rain.

    帶定 (daai3 ding6) shows the action of bringing the umbrella is a preparation for potential rain.

  3. 我今晚要準備定啲資料。

    I need to prepare the materials in advance tonight.

    Word by Word: I tonight need prepare-advance [plural-classifier] data.

    準備定 (zeon2 bei6 ding6) emphasizes that the preparation is being done now for a future meeting or task.

  4. 我買定咗飛喇，聽日見！

    I've already bought the tickets in advance, see you tomorrow!

    Word by Word: I buy-advance-[past] tickets [particle], tomorrow see!

    This shows 定 (ding6) combined with 咗 (zo2) to indicate a completed preparatory action.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'ding6' at the end of the sentence like the English 'in advance'.

    我準備資料定。
    我準備定資料。

    In Cantonese, 定 (ding6) is a verbal suffix and must come immediately after the verb, before the object.

  • Joining two choices that do not match with 定係.

    你想食定係麵？
    你想食飯定係食麵？

    The conjunction 定係 (ding6 hai6) (or) joins two matching choices, such as 食飯 and 食麵. The suffix 定 (ding6) (in advance) is a different word that goes right after a verb.

How It Connects

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

V+定Level 3Do It in Advance

Learn This First

To understand 'V+定', you need to be comfortable with the basic structure of Cantonese verbs and how they are modified by particles that follow them to indicate the timing or status of an action.