Reporting what someone said
In Cantonese, indirect speech is formed by using the reporting verb 話 (waa6). Unlike English, there is no 'backshifting' of tenses, and pronouns are frequently dropped if the context is clear.
How It Works
Indirect speech in Cantonese is straightforward but requires attention to pronoun shifts and natural dropping. To become proficient in reporting speech, follow these rules:
- No Tense Changes: Unlike English, aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2) remain unchanged from the original statement.
- Pronoun and Deictic Shifts: You must shift pronouns and spatial references to match the reporter's perspective. For example, 'here' (呢度) usually becomes 'there' (嗰度) if the reporter is in a different location.
- Reporting Questions: Use the verb 問 (man6; to ask) followed by an A-not-A structure or a question word to report what someone asked.
- Reporting Commands: Use the verb 叫 (giu3; to tell/order) to report instructions (e.g., 佢叫我行先 - He told me to go first).
- Optional 'waa6': While 話 (waa6) acts as a complementizer (like 'that'), it is often omitted after mental verbs like 覺得 (gok3 dak1) or 知 (zi1).
- Hearsay Particle: Use the low-rising particle 喎 (wo5) to mark information as second-hand. Note that the mid-level tone 喎 (wo3) is different; it expresses surprise or a reminder.
Examples (6)
- 佢話聽日唔返工。
He said [he] isn't coming to work tomorrow.
Word by Word: He say tomorrow not return work.
This demonstrates pronoun dropping. The second 'he' is omitted because it is clear who is not coming to work.
- 佢問我食唔食飯。
He asked me if I was eating.
Word by Word: He ask me eat not eat rice.
To report a question, use X唔X (A-not-A) structures after the verb 問 (man6; to ask).
- 媽媽叫我等陣。
Mom told me to wait a moment.
Word by Word: Mom call me wait moment.
Commands are reported using the verb 叫 (giu3; to call/tell someone to do something).
- 佢話佢唔記得咗喎。
He said he forgot [I heard].
Word by Word: He say he not remember [perfective] [hearsay].
The particle 喎 (wo5) is added at the end to emphasize that this is reported information.
- 阿明話想喺嗰度食飯。
Ah Ming said [he] wants to eat there.
Word by Word: Ah Ming say want at that place eat rice.
This shows a deictic shift. If Ah Ming originally said 'here' (呢度), the reporter changes it to 'there' (嗰度) to match their own location.
- 我知佢去咗邊。
I know where he went.
Word by Word: I know he go [perfective] where.
After verbs like 知 (zi1; to know), the word 話 (waa6) is often omitted.
Common Mistakes
Using 講 (gong2) instead of 話 (waa6) to report what someone said.
Different Meaning佢講佢唔嚟。佢話佢唔嚟。講 (gong2) can introduce what someone said, but 話 (waa6) is the usual word for reporting content. 佢講佢唔嚟 is understood; 佢話佢唔嚟 is more typical.
Using 我 instead of 佢 when you report what he said about himself.
Different Meaning佢話我好忙。佢話佢好忙。If you say '佢話我好忙', it means 'He said that I (the current speaker) am busy.' You must change the pronoun to 佢 (keoi5) to report his own words about himself.
Trying to use 嘅 (ge3) as a linker like 'that'.
佢話嘅佢去街市。佢話佢去街市。English speakers often look for a word for 'that'. In Cantonese, 話 (waa6) already performs this function; adding 嘅 (ge3) is ungrammatical here.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To report what someone said in Cantonese, you primarily need to understand how to use the verb '話' (to say) to introduce a new clause. Unlike English, Cantonese does not require a linking word like 'that', so understanding how clauses can be placed side-by-side is crucial.
- 話That (Introducing a Clause)
The verb '話' (to say) is the primary verb used to introduce reported speech in Cantonese.
Level 3 - Linking clauses with no conjunction
Indirect speech in Cantonese functions by linking clauses together without explicit conjunctions, which is a fundamental feature of the language's syntax.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- 喎 (wo5)Hearsay
A particle used to mark hearsay. Be careful not to confuse it with the mid-level tone 喎 (wo3), which indicates surprise or a reminder.
Level 3 - 覺得Think/feel That
A mental verb that can introduce indirect thoughts; 話 (waa6) is optional after this verb.
Level 1 - 知Know That
The verb 'to know' often introduces indirect questions or facts directly without needing 話 (waa6).
Level 2 - 講畀...聽Tell (Someone)
A common construction meaning 'to tell someone', often followed by the reported content.
Level 2 - 表示State (Formal Reporting Verb)
A formal reporting verb used in news contexts instead of the colloquial 話 (waa6).
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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Practice Reporting what someone said in Bubblegum
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