咁上下
Thereabouts
Use 咁上下 (gam3 soeng6 haa2) after a number, time, or duration to say 'approximately'. In casual speech, the final character '下' usually changes to Tone 2 (haa2).
How It Works
1. Basic Usage
The pattern follows the structure: [Amount/Time] + 咁上下 (gam3 soeng6 haa2). It is used to give a ballpark figure when you don't need to be precise.
2. Tone Change (Tone 2)
While the dictionary pronunciation of 下 is Tone 6 (haa6), in this specific expression, it almost always undergoes a tone change to Tone 2 (haa2). Using Tone 6 here sounds stiff and unnatural to native ears.
3. Adjectival Nuance: Mediocre vs. Substantial
Beyond numbers, 咁上下 can describe a level of quality. If you say something 係 (hai6) 咁上下, it often implies it is 'so-so' or 'just average'. However, if you say someone 有 (jau5) 咁上下 (or 有返咁上下), it implies they have a substantial or impressive level of skill or status.
4. Comparison Structure
You can use the structure 同 (tung4) [A] 咁上下 to mean 'roughly the same as A'. This is commonly used for ages, heights, or standards.
5. Register
This is a purely spoken Cantonese expression. In formal writing, you should use 左右 (zo2 jau6) or 大約 (daai6 joek3) instead.
Examples (5)
- 佢有五十歲咁上下。
He is about 50 years old.
Word by Word: He has fifty years-old so-above-below.
Here, 咁上下 (gam3 soeng6 haa2) follows the age to indicate an estimate.
- 呢件衫要五百蚊咁上下。
This shirt costs roughly 500 dollars.
Word by Word: This [classifier] shirt needs five-hundred dollars so-above-below.
It is used here to estimate the price of an item.
- 佢嘅表現都係咁上下咋。
His performance was just so-so.
Word by Word: He [possessive] performance also is so-above-below [only].
When used with 係 (hai6), it often implies a mediocre or 'just average' level.
- 佢有咁上下實力㗎。
He has a fair amount of skill.
Word by Word: He has so-above-below strength [fact].
When used with 有 (jau5), it implies a respectable or substantial level of quality.
- 我同佢嘅年紀咁上下。
He and I are roughly the same age.
Word by Word: I with him [possessive] age so-above-below.
This demonstrates the comparison structure meaning 'roughly the same'.
Common Mistakes
Placing the marker before the number.
佢咁上下五十歲。佢五十歲咁上下。Unlike English 'about', 咁上下 must come AFTER the number. If you want to put the word before the number, use 差唔多 instead.
Using the wrong tone for '下'.
五十歲咁上下 (haa6).五十歲咁上下 (haa2).In this specific phrase, native speakers almost always use the high-rising Tone 2 (haa2) rather than the standard Tone 6 (haa6).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use '咁上下' (thereabouts), you first need to be comfortable with Cantonese numbers and classifiers. It functions similarly to '左右' (about/around) by being placed after a measurement or quantity to indicate an approximation.
- 左右About
Both patterns are rough markers used after an amount to indicate 'about' or 'approximately', with '左右' being the most common foundational term for this function.
Level 2 - 咁 (gam3)So / That (Degree)
The word '咁' is a component of this pattern, and understanding its use as a degree or manner marker helps in recognizing the structure of '咁上下'.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- 大約Approximately
A formal pre-positional marker for 'approximately', common in news and business.
Level 2 - 差唔多About the Same / Roughly
The most common colloquial pre-positional marker for 'roughly' or 'almost'.
Level 2 - Tone Change
Explains why the character 下 changes from Tone 6 to Tone 2 in this expression.
Foundations - 幾多How Many / How Much
Used to ask 'how many', often answered with an approximation using 咁上下.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice 咁上下 in Bubblegum
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