Number + Classifier + 嘅 + Noun

In Cantonese, adding 嘅 (ge3) after a measurement changes the phrase from a simple count to an attribute describing the noun:

• Price and Value: Defines the cost as an attribute. Example: 十蚊嘅飛 (sap6 man1 ge3 fei1) - 'a ten-dollar ticket'.
• Weight and Size: Describes physical dimensions. Example: 兩磅嘅牛扒 (loeng5 bong6 ge3 ngau4 paa2) - 'a two-pound steak' or 五百呎嘅屋 (ng5 baak3 cek3 ge3 uk1) - 'a 500 sq ft flat'.
• Age and Time: Describes age or duration. Example: 三歲嘅細路 (saam1 seoi3 ge3 sai3 lou6) - 'a three-year-old child' or 兩日嘅車程 (loeng5 jat6 ge3 ce1 cing4) - 'a two-day journey'.
• Packaged Sets: While 三本書 (saam1 bun2 syu1) means 'three books', 一套三本嘅書 (jat1 tou3 saam1 bun2 ge3 syu1) means 'a set of three books'.
• Stacking Classifiers: To explicitly count these attributed items, you add another number and classifier at the front. Example: 一個十蚊嘅西瓜 (jat1 go3 sap6 man1 ge3 sai1 gwaa1) - 'one ten-dollar watermelon'.
• Dropping the Noun: In market contexts, if the item is obvious, the noun is often dropped. For example, pointing at a fruit stall: 我要十蚊嘅 (ngo5 jiu3 sap6 man1 ge3) - 'I want the ten-dollar one(s).'
• Dropping 嘅 in Everyday Speech: In casual conversation, the 嘅 (ge3) is frequently dropped entirely to form a tight compound noun for non-divisible items. For example, 十蚊飛 (sap6 man1 fei1) instead of 十蚊嘅飛 (sap6 man1 ge3 fei1). However, for mass or divisible nouns, dropping 嘅 fundamentally changes the meaning from an attribute to a quantity. For example, 兩磅嘅牛扒 (loeng5 bong6 ge3 ngau4 paa2) means 'a two-pound steak' (one steak weighing two pounds), whereas 兩磅牛扒 (loeng5 bong6 ngau4 paa2) means 'two pounds of steak' (any number of pieces totaling two pounds).

Crucial Rule: Measure Words vs. Count Classifiers
This pattern is freely used with standard Measure Words (like 蚊 man1, 磅 bong6, 呎 cek3, 歲 seoi3). However, it is generally ungrammatical with standard Count Classifiers (like 個 go3, 隻 zek3, 條 tiu4) unless you are describing a packaged set or format, where the phrase functions as a unit of measurement. This pattern is essential for becoming proficient in shopping and providing technical descriptions.