嗰

1. Basic Syntactic Structure
In Cantonese, 嗰 (go2, Tone 2 high-rising) functions as the distal demonstrative ('that' / 'those'). It works identically to its proximal counterpart 呢 (ni1/li1 - 'this') and its interrogative counterpart 邊 (bin1 - 'which'). For general count and mass nouns, Cantonese requires a classifier or plural marker between 嗰 and the noun:
• Singular: 嗰 + Classifier + Noun (e.g., 嗰本字典 go2 bun2 zi6 din2 - 'that dictionary')
• Plural/Mass: 嗰 + 啲 + Noun (e.g., 嗰啲衫 go2 di1 saam1 - 'those clothes', 嗰啲水 go2 di1 seoi2 - 'that water')

Note on Exceptions: Certain time and spatial words act as their own measure words or locative particles and attach directly to 嗰, such as 嗰日 (go2 jat6 - 'that day'), 嗰陣 (go2 zan6 - 'that time'), 嗰時 (go2 si4 - 'that time'), 嗰度 (go2 dou6 - 'there') or 嗰處 (go2 syu3 - 'there', though much less common in modern spoken Cantonese), 嗰邊 (go2 bin1/bin6 - 'that side / over there'), 嗰頭 (go2 tau4 - 'that area'), 嗰晚 (go2 maan5 - 'that night'), and 嗰年 (go2 nin4 - 'that year'). However, general time and location nouns still need classifiers (e.g., 嗰個星期 go2 go3 sing1 kei4 - 'that week', 嗰個地方 go2 go3 dei6 fong1 - 'that place').

2. Counting with Numbers
When specifying exact quantities, insert the number between 嗰 and the classifier. The number one (一, jat1) is usually omitted but can be inserted for emphasis (e.g., 嗰一本書 go2 jat1 bun2 syu1 - 'that one book'):
• 嗰 + Number + Classifier + Noun (e.g., 嗰三本書 go2 saam1 bun2 syu1 - 'those three books')
• For the standalone quantity of two, always use 兩 (loeng5) instead of 二 (ji6): 嗰兩架車 (go2 loeng5 gaa3 ce1 - 'those two cars'). However, when the digit 2 is in the ones or tens place (like 12 or 22), use 二 (ji6): 嗰十二架車 (go2 sap6 ji6 gaa3 ce1 - 'those twelve cars'). In spoken Cantonese, 廿 (jaa6) is highly common for 20 (e.g., 嗰廿架車). For hundreds and thousands, both 兩 (loeng5) and 二 (ji6) are acceptable and widely used (e.g., 兩百 or 二百).

3. Pronominal Use ('That One' / 'Those')
When context makes the noun obvious, you can drop the noun, but you MUST keep the classifier or plural marker. You cannot say '嗰' alone to mean 'that'. For singular items, use 嗰個 (go2 go3 - 'that one') or combine 嗰 with the relevant specific classifier. For plural or mass nouns, use 嗰啲 (go2 di1) as a standalone pronoun to mean 'those' or 'that stuff' (e.g., 嗰啲係我嘅 go2 di1 hai6 ngo5 ge3 - 'Those are mine').
Note: 嗰個 (go2 go3) is also frequently used as a conversational hesitation filler, similar to 'um' or 'uh' in English (e.g., 我尋日去咗... 嗰個... 旺角 ngo5 cam4 jat6 heoi3 zo2... go2 go3... wong6 gok3 - 'I went to... um... Mong Kok yesterday').

4. Distinction Between 嗰 (go2) and 個 (go3)
• 嗰 (go2, Tone 2) = demonstrative 'that'
• 個 (go3, Tone 3) = general individual classifier
Combining them forms 嗰個 (go2 go3, 'that one').

5. Informal Spoken Relative Clauses
In everyday Cantonese speech, 嗰 + Classifier is frequently used to form relative clauses without needing the particle 嘅 (ge3). The formula is: [Modifying Clause] + 嗰 + [Classifier] + [Noun]. For example: 我買嗰本書 (ngo5 maai5 go2 bun2 syu1 - 'that book I bought'), 著紅衫嗰個人 (zoek3 hung4 saam1 go2 go3 jan4 - 'that person wearing a red shirt'), or 佢揀嗰啲衫 (keoi5 gaan2 go2 di1 saam1 - 'those clothes [that] she picked').

6. Specific Possessive
A major function of 嗰 + Classifier is to indicate possession of a specific, definite item. The structure is [Pronoun] + 嗰 + [Classifier] + [Noun] (e.g., 我嗰架車 ngo5 go2 gaa3 ce1 - 'my car' / 'that car of mine').

7. Spoken vs. Written Cantonese
It is important to note that 嗰 is strictly used in spoken and informal written Cantonese. In formal contexts or Standard Written Chinese, the character 那 (naa5/naa6) is used instead. You may also occasionally see the character variant 𠮨 used in written Cantonese.

8. Temporal Conjunction ('When...')
A crucial function of 嗰 is forming time clauses using 嗰陣 (go2 zan6) or 嗰陣時 (go2 zan6 si4). To say 'when something happened', place the action before 嗰陣: [Clause] + 嗰陣. For example: 我讀大學嗰陣 (ngo5 duk6 daai6 hok6 go2 zan6 - 'When I was in university...').