幾耐

How Long

Level 1Sounds Like gei2 noi6

Use 幾耐 (gei2 noi6) to ask about a period of time. It usually follows the verb.

How It Works

1. Basic Usage
幾耐 (gei2 noi6) is used to ask 'how long' in terms of time duration. It stays in the post-verbal position where the answer (e.g., 'three hours') would go.

2. Sentence Structures
There are three common ways to use 幾耐 with verbs:

  • Simple Verbs: [Subject] + [Verb] + 咗 (zo2) + 幾耐?
    Example: 你等咗幾耐？ (How long did you wait?)
  • Verb-Object (Option A): [Subject] + [Verb] + 咗 (zo2) + 幾耐 + [Object]?
    Example: 你學咗幾耐廣東話？ (How long have you studied Cantonese?)
  • Verb-Object (Option B - Verb Repetition): [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object] + [Verb] + 咗 (zo2) + 幾耐?
    Example: 你學廣東話學咗幾耐？ (How long have you studied Cantonese?)

Both Option A and B are natural and widely used.

3. Ongoing Duration
To ask how long something has been happening up until now, add the particle 喇 (laa3) at the end of the sentence. For example, 你喺呢度住咗幾耐喇？ (How long have you been living here?) implies you are still living there.

4. Duration vs. Point in Time
Do not confuse 幾耐 (gei2 noi6) with 幾時 (gei2 si4). 幾耐 asks for a span of time, while 幾時 asks for a specific point in time (when).

Examples (5)

  1. 行路要幾耐呀？

    How long does it take to walk?

    Word by Word: Walk road need how long [particle]?

    A common way to ask about travel time. The particle 呀 (aa3) softens the question.

  2. 你喺香港住咗幾耐？

    How long have you lived in Hong Kong?

    Word by Word: You at Hong Kong live [aspect] how long?

    Uses the locative 喺 (hai2) and the perfective 咗 (zo2) to ask about a duration.

  3. 你學咗幾耐廣東話？

    How long have you studied Cantonese?

    Word by Word: You study [aspect] how long Cantonese?

    This is a standard and common way to ask about duration with an object. You can place the duration directly after the verb and before the object.

  4. 你學咗廣東話幾耐喇？

    How long have you been studying Cantonese (until now)?

    Word by Word: You study [aspect] Cantonese how long [particle]?

    Adding the particle 喇 (laa3) at the end emphasizes that the action is still ongoing up to the present moment.

  5. 你等咗幾耐呀？

    How long did you wait?

    Word by Word: You wait [aspect] how long [particle]?

    A simple structure for verbs without an object: [Subject] + [Verb] + 咗 (zo2) + 幾耐 (gei2 noi6).

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'how long' at the beginning of the sentence.

    幾耐你等咗？
    你等咗幾耐？

    Cantonese is a 'wh-in-situ' language, meaning question words stay in the same position as the answer. In a plain question the duration usually follows the verb, as in 你等咗幾耐, not at the start.

  • Using 幾耐 to ask about physical length.

    Different Meaning呢條繩有幾耐？
    呢條繩有幾長？

    呢條繩有幾耐 is a fine sentence, but it asks how long the rope will last (time). 幾耐 (gei2 noi6) is for time. To ask how long the rope is, use 幾長 (gei2 coeng4).

How It Connects

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幾耐Level 1How Long

Learn This First

To understand '幾耐' (how long), you need to know how Cantonese handles question words (wh-in-situ) and how the prefix '幾' is used to form quantity-based questions. Familiarity with basic sentence-final particles like '呀' is also helpful for natural phrasing.

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Words in This Pattern

几耐