V + 畀...睇

Do Something for Someone to See

Level 3

The V + 畀...睇 (V + bei2... tai2) pattern is the standard way to say 'show me' or 'do something for someone to see.' It literally translates to 'Verb [something] give [someone] see.'

How It Works

In Cantonese, when you want to show someone how to do something, you don't just use a single verb for 'show.' Instead, you use a serial verb construction:

[Subject] + [Verb] + (Object) + 畀 (bei2) + [Person] + 睇 (tai2)

Key features of this pattern:

  • Object Placement: If there is a noun (object), it almost always goes before the word 畀 (bei2). For example: 彈琴畀我睇 (Play the piano for me to see).
  • Aspect Markers: If you use markers like 咗 (zo2), they attach to the first verb, not to 畀 or 睇.
  • Nuance: It can be used for helpful instruction ('Let me show you'), performance ('Watch me dance'), or even proving a point ('I'll fix it to show you I can').
  • Sensory Variations: You can change the final verb to match the sense involved. Use 聽 (teng1) for 'play/say for someone to hear' or 知 (zi1) for 'tell someone so they know.'

Examples (4)

  1. 你做一次畀我睇呀。

    Do it once for me to see (Show me how to do it once).

    Word by Word: You do one time give me see [particle].

    This is a common way to ask for a demonstration. The phrase 做一次 (zou6 jat1 ci3) means 'do once'.

  2. 佢跳咗隻舞畀大家睇。

    He performed a dance for everyone to watch.

    Word by Word: He dance [perfective] [classifier] dance give everyone see.

    Note that the aspect marker 咗 (zo2) follows the main verb 跳 (tiu3), and the object 舞 (mou5) comes before 畀 (bei2).

  3. 我整返好部機畀你睇！

    I'll fix the machine (to show you/to prove I can)!

    Word by Word: I fix back good [classifier] machine give you see!

    Here, the pattern is used to prove a point or show the result of an action. 整返好 (zing2 faan1 hou2) means 'to fix back to a good state'.

  4. 你彈段琴畀我聽吖。

    Play a piece of piano for me to hear.

    Word by Word: You play [classifier] piano give me hear [particle].

    This uses the sensory variation 聽 (teng1, to hear) because the action is auditory rather than visual.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the object at the very end of the sentence.

    做畀我睇個樣。
    做個樣畀我睇。

    In Cantonese, the object must come before the 畀 (bei2) phrase. Putting it at the end sounds like 'Do for me see the way,' which is unnatural.

  • Using 同 (tung4) when you mean to show someone something.

    Different Meaning我同你睇呢本書。
    我攞呢本書畀你睇。

    我同你睇呢本書 is a normal sentence: 同 (tung4) means 'with', so it says I look at this book together with you. To show someone the book, use the 畀 (bei2) ... 睇 pattern: 我攞呢本書畀你睇.

How It Connects

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

V + 畀...睇Level 3Do Something for Someone to See

Learn This First

To understand 'V + 畀...睇', you need to know how to use '畀' as a benefactive marker (doing something for someone) and how Cantonese structures serial verb phrases where one action is performed for the purpose of another (in this case, for someone to see/watch).

Words in This Pattern