Direction Word + 嚟/去

Simple Directional

Level 2Sounds Like heoi3

Simple directional patterns pair path verbs like 入 (jap6, in) or 落 (lok6, down) with 嚟 (lai4/lei4, come) or 去 (heoi3, go) to indicate motion towards or away from the speaker.

How It Works

Simple directional compounds tell us how movement occurs in space and whether that movement is coming toward or going away from the speaker.

1. Structure and Deictic Perspective
A directional compound consists of a Path Verb followed by a deictic directional particle:

Core Path Verbs:

  • 入 (jap6, in) → 入嚟 (come in) / 入去 (go in)
  • 出 (ceot1, out) → 出嚟 (come out) / 出去 (go out)
  • 上 (soeng5, up) → 上嚟 (come up) / 上去 (go up)
  • 落 (lok6, down) → 落嚟 (come down) / 落去 (go down)
  • 過 (gwo3, across) → 過嚟 (come over) / 過去 (go over)
  • 返 (faan1, back) → 返嚟 (come back) / 返去 (go back)
  • 埋 (maai4, close/approach) → 埋嚟 (come closer) / 埋去 (go closer)
  • 開 (hoi1, away/apart) → 開嚟 (move out of the way towards speaker) / 開去 (move away)

2. Aspect Marker Placement
Placement of aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2) depends on the structure:

  • Path Verb + Deictic (2-verb compound): The aspect marker is placed between the path verb and 嚟/去.
    • 入咗嚟 (jap6 zo2 lai4) = came in
    • 落緊去 (lok6 gan2 heoi3) = going down right now
  • Action Verb + Path Verb + Deictic (3-verb combination): The aspect marker can attach directly to the main action verb, or it can be placed after the path verb.
    • 行咗出去 (haang4 zo2 ceot1 heoi3) or 行出咗去 (haang4 ceot1 zo2 heoi3) = walked out
    • 飛咗過嚟 (fei1 zo2 gwo3 lai4) or 飛過咗嚟 (fei1 gwo3 zo2 lai4) = flew over

3. Inserting Location Objects
When specifying a destination, Cantonese typically places the location object after the entire directional compound. Alternatively, the location object can be placed after the path verb alone, but in this case, the deictic particle (嚟/去) must be dropped entirely:
• 行入嚟間房 (haang4 jap6 lai4 gaan1 fong2) = walk into the room (towards speaker)
• 行入間房 (haang4 jap6 gaan1 fong2) = walk into the room (dropping 嚟/去)
• 返去學校 (faan1 heoi3 hok6 haau6) = go back to school (away from speaker)
Note: Unlike Mandarin, Cantonese does not allow location objects to split the directional compound (e.g., *返學校去 is incorrect).

4. Transitive Objects (Things/People)
When causing something or someone to move, Cantonese typically places regular (non-location) objects before the directional compound (Action Verb + Object + Path Verb + Deictic):
• 攞本書出嚟 (lo2 bun2 syu1 ceot1 lai4) = take the book out
Note: Unlike Mandarin, Cantonese strongly prefers keeping the directional compound together after the object and strictly rejects putting the object at the very end (*攞出嚟本書 is ungrammatical).

5. Potential Complements (得 / 唔)
To express ability or inability to move in a direction, insert 得 (dak1, can) or 唔 (m4, cannot) into the structure:

  • Path Verb + Deictic (2-verb compound): Insert 得 or 唔 between the path verb and 嚟/去.
    • 入唔嚟 (jap6 m4 lai4) = cannot come in
  • Action Verb + Path Verb + Deictic (3-verb combination): Insert 得 or 唔 between the main action verb and the path verb.
    • 行得出嚟 (haang4 dak1 ceot1 lai4) = can walk out

6. Routine Returns with 返
When returning to a regular location (home, school, office), Cantonese requires 返 (faan1) rather than simple 去 (heoi3). For instance, 'go home' is 返屋企 (faan1 uk1 kei2) or 返去 (faan1 heoi3).

7. Metaphorical and Aspectual Extensions
Directional compounds are also used metaphorically to express aspect (how an action unfolds in time):

  • 落去 (lok6 heoi3): Expresses the continuative aspect (keeping on doing something).
    • 做落去 (zou6 lok6 heoi3) = keep on doing it
  • 起上嚟 (hei2 soeng5 lai4): Expresses the inchoative aspect (starting to do something).
    • 喊起上嚟 (haam3 hei2 soeng5 lai4) = start crying

Examples (4)

  1. 你快啲入嚟啦，出面好凍！

    Hurry up and come inside, it's very cold outside!

    Word by Word: You fast-a-bit enter-come particle, outside very cold!

    入嚟 (jap6 lai4) combines the path verb 入 (in) with 嚟 (towards speaker) to mean 'come in'.

  2. 佢已經搬咗上去三樓。

    S/he has already moved up to the third floor.

    Word by Word: S/he already move-PERF up-go third floor.

    搬上去 (bun1 soeng5 heoi3) attaches the directional compound 上去 to the action verb 搬 (move). Notice that 咗 (zo2) attaches directly to the main action verb 搬.

  3. 你幾時返嚟香港呀？

    When are you coming back to Hong Kong?

    Word by Word: You when return-come Hong Kong particle?

    返嚟 (faan1 lai4) means 'come back'. The destination 香港 (Hong Kong) follows the directional compound.

  4. 我而家過去搵你。

    I'm heading over there to see you now.

    Word by Word: I now cross-go find you.

    When moving away from your current location towards the listener, use 過去 (gwo3 heoi3) instead of 嚟.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 咗 (zo2) cannot come after 去.

    Different Meaning佢行出去咗。
    佢行咗出去。

    Both 佢行出去咗 and 佢行咗出去 are natural. 咗 (zo2) can follow the verb or sit at the end after 去/嚟. The form with 咗 right after the verb is the one this pattern focuses on.

  • Using 去 (heoi3) instead of 返 (faan1) when returning to a regular base or home.

    我今晚好晏先去屋企。
    我今晚好晏先返屋企。

    When going back to a habitual place like home, school, or work, Cantonese uses 返 (faan1) or 返去 (faan1 heoi3), not plain 去.

  • Using 嚟 (lai4) when moving away from your current location toward the listener.

    我依家嚟緊你嗰度！
    我依家過去你嗰度！

    In English people say 'I'm coming over!', but Cantonese maintains strict physical perspective: moving away from your current spot towards someone else requires 過去 (gwo3 heoi3), not 嚟.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Direction Word + 嚟/去Level 2Simple Directional

Learn This First

To understand simple directional compounds, learners must first understand the core concepts of 'coming' (嚟) and 'going' (去) relative to the speaker's position, as well as how Cantonese uses verbal particles to modify the meaning of movement.

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