覺得

Think/feel That

Level 1Sounds Like gok3 dak1

Use 覺得 (gok3 dak1) to share personal opinions or describe physical and emotional feelings, such as 'I think this is good' or 'I feel tired'.

How It Works

1. Sentence Structure
The basic structure is: Subject + 覺得 + Clause / Adjective.
In Cantonese, you place the clause or adjective directly after 覺得 without needing any linking conjunction.
• 我覺得呢件事好奇怪 (ngo5 gok3 dak1 ni1 gin6 si6 hou2 kei4 gwaai3) = 'I think this matter is very odd.'
• 我覺得好攰 (ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2 gui6) = 'I feel very tired.'

2. Functions: Opinions and Physical States
覺得 serves two main functions: expressing a personal viewpoint ('In my view...') and describing physical or emotional perceptions ('I feel cold'). Using 我覺得 before giving an opinion softens your delivery, making feedback sound more polite and considerate.

3. Negation, Questions, and Short Forms
You can negate the main verb directly with 唔 (m4): 我唔覺得... (ngo5 m4 gok3 dak1..., 'I don't think...'). Alternatively, you can negate the clause following it: 我覺得唔... (ngo5 gok3 dak1 m4..., 'I think it is not...'). To ask for someone's opinion using an A-not-A question, use 你覺唔覺得...？ (nei5 gok3 m4 gok3 dak1...?, 'Do you think...?'). In casual spoken exchanges, Cantonese speakers often shorten the verb by dropping 得 (dak1): 我都覺 (ngo5 dou1 gok3, 'I think so too') or 我唔覺 (ngo5 m4 gok3, 'I don't think so').

4. Distinguishing 覺得 from Similar Words
• 覺得 (gok3 dak1): Expresses subjective opinions, impressions, or physical/emotional feelings.
• 諗 (nam2): Commonly used in casual Cantonese to mean 'to think / reckon / suppose'. It can express an opinion or mental deliberation, while compounds like 諗住 (nam2 zyu6) emphasize planning.
• 感覺 (gam2 gok3) / 感覺到 (gam2 gok3 dou3): 感覺 refers to 'a feeling' (noun) or physical sensory detection ('to sense/feel'), whereas 覺得 introduces a viewpoint or subjective state.
• 以為 (ji5 wai4): Refers to a mistaken belief ('I mistakenly thought...').

Examples (4)

  1. 我覺得呢件衫唔係幾靚。

    I think this shirt isn't very pretty.

    Word by Word: I feel this CL shirt not is quite pretty

    Placing 我覺得 at the beginning softens the opinion and avoids sounding overly blunt.

  2. 你覺得邊件好啲呀？

    Which one do you think is better?

    Word by Word: you feel which CL good a-bit SFP

    Uses 覺得 to ask someone for their personal judgment between options.

  3. 我行完公司之後覺得好攰。

    I felt very tired after going window shopping.

    Word by Word: I walk finish department-store after feel very tired

    Demonstrates 覺得 being used for a physical state ('feeling tired') rather than a conceptual opinion.

  4. 我唔覺得佢會嚟。

    I don't think he will come.

    Word by Word: I not feel he will come

    Shows negation with 唔 (m4) directly before 覺得.

Common Mistakes

  • Inserting an unnecessary connecting word like 話 (waa6) after 覺得.

    我覺得話呢件事好奇怪。
    我覺得呢件事好奇怪。

    Cantonese 覺得 takes a clause directly without any complementizer like 'that' or 話 (waa6).

  • Mispronouncing 覺 as gaau3 in 覺得.

    我覺(gaau3)得好攰。
    我覺(gok3)得好攰。

    While 覺 is pronounced gaau3 in 瞓覺 (fan3 gaau3, 'sleep'), it must be pronounced gok3 in 覺得 (gok3 dak1).

  • Using 覺得 instead of 諗 (nam2) for active pondering or contemplating.

    我喺度覺得緊呢個問題。
    我喺度諗緊呢個問題。

    To express the active cognitive process of thinking or pondering over a problem, use 諗 (nam2).

How It Connects

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覺得Level 1Think/feel That

Learn This First

To use 覺得 (to think/feel), you need to understand how to form basic sentences and use pronouns, as this pattern essentially embeds one sentence inside another to express an opinion.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

觉得