呢/嗰

This / That

Level 1Sounds Like go2

In Cantonese, 呢 (ni1 / li1) points to things close to you ('this'), while 嗰 (go2) points to things further away ('that'). Neither word usually attaches directly to a noun—you must put a classifier, a number + classifier, or the plural marker 啲 (di1) in between.

How It Works

Cantonese relies on two core demonstratives to indicate distance from the speaker:

  • 呢 (ni1 / nei1 / li1): Proximal ('this' / 'these'). Indicates something close spatially, temporally, or psychologically. Standard citation pronunciations include ni1 and nei1. Colloquially, modern speakers frequently pronounce initial N as L, so you will often hear it spoken as li1 or lei1. You will also hear the casual variant 依 (ji1), especially in rapid speech before classifiers.
  • 嗰 (go2): Distal ('that' / 'those'). Indicates something further away from the speaker.

Crucial Syntactic Rule: No Direct Noun Attachment
In English, you can say 'this book' directly. In Cantonese, demonstratives do not usually modify a noun directly (time and place words such as 呢度 and 呢日 are exceptions). They must be linked using a classifier:

  • Singular: 呢/嗰 + Classifier + Noun
    Example: 呢本書 (ni1 bun2 syu1) = this book
  • With Numbers: 呢/嗰 + Number + Classifier + Noun
    Example: 嗰三架車 (go2 saam1 gaa3 ce1) = those three cars
  • Plural / Mass Nouns: 呢/嗰 + 啲 + Noun
    Example: 呢啲水 (ni1 di1 seoi2) = this water / 嗰啲人 (go2 di1 jan4) = those people
  • Standalone Pronouns: 呢 or 嗰 can combine with any classifier to function as a standalone pronoun when the context is clear (e.g., 呢本 ni1 bun2 = 'this book / this one', 呢架 ni1 gaa3 = 'this vehicle / this one'). The general combination 呢個 (ni1 go3) / 嗰個 (go2 go3) serves as the default 'this one / that one' when no specific category classifier is required.

Examples (5)

  1. 呢本書好睇。

    This book is good to read.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] book very good-to-read.

    Uses 呢 (ni1) followed by the specific book classifier 本 (bun2).

  2. 嗰架車好靚。

    That car is very pretty.

    Word by Word: That [classifier] car very pretty.

    Uses 嗰 (go2) paired with the vehicle classifier 架 (gaa3).

  3. 我要買呢啲橙。

    I want to buy these oranges.

    Word by Word: I want buy these oranges.

    Uses 呢 (ni1) with 啲 (di1) to mark a plural noun ('these oranges').

  4. 嗰個人係我朋友。

    That person is my friend.

    Word by Word: That [classifier] person is my friend.

    Uses 嗰 (go2) with the general classifier 個 (go3) to specify a person.

  5. 呢三位客人好客氣。

    These three guests are very polite.

    Word by Word: These three [polite-classifier] guests very polite.

    Shows the pattern [ Demonstrative + Number + Classifier + Noun ].

Common Mistakes

  • Attaching demonstratives directly to nouns without a classifier.

    呢書好睇。
    呢本書好睇。

    Cantonese demonstratives 呢 (ni1) and 嗰 (go2) cannot modify nouns directly. You must insert a classifier like 本 (bun2) or 個 (go3).

  • Using the pronoun plural suffix 哋 (dei6) to make 'these' or 'those'.

    呢哋書係我嘅。
    呢啲書係我嘅。

    The suffix 哋 (dei6) goes after personal pronouns (我哋 ngo5 dei6 'we', 佢哋 keoi5 dei6 'they') and 人 (人哋). It does not attach to demonstratives. Use 啲 (di1) for plural demonstratives.

  • Combining specific numbers with the plural marker 啲 (di1).

    呢三個啲人
    呢三個人

    The plural marker 啲 (di1) is indefinite and replaces sortal classifiers. If a specific quantity is stated, use standard classifiers (e.g., 三個人).

How It Connects

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呢/嗰Level 1This / That

Learn This First

To use 'this' and 'that' in Cantonese, you need to understand how classifiers work, as they are required between the demonstrative and the noun.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

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Words in This Pattern