開

As an aspect marker, the particle 開 (hoi1) serves two primary functions in Cantonese: marking habitual actions and indicating actions that have started and are continuing.

1. Habitual Aspect
When attached to a verb, 開 (hoi1) indicates a customary practice or a 'regular' choice. It is more specific than a frequency adverb because it implies a continuing state of habit.

• 我食開呢間舖。(I usually eat at this shop / This is my regular shop.)
• 佢著開中碼。(She usually wears a medium size.)

2. Negating and Questioning the Habitual Aspect
To negate a habitual action, place 唔 (m4) directly before the verb: 唔 + Verb + 開. This indicates a general, present lack of habit or preference.

• 我唔食開呢間。(I don't usually eat at this shop.)

You can also use 冇 (mou5) to mean you 'haven't been in the habit of' doing something: 冇 + Verb + 開. This indicates a lack of past-to-present experience or habit. To ask if someone has a habit of doing something, use the A-not-A question pattern 有冇 (jau5 mou5): 有冇 + Verb + 開.

• 我冇睇開呢套劇。(I haven't been watching this drama.)
• 你有冇食開辣？(Do you usually eat spicy food?)

3. Modifying Nouns (Relative Clauses)
You can use 開 to describe a noun that you habitually interact with, using the structure Verb + 開 + 嘅 (ge3) + Noun OR Verb + 開 + 嗰 (go2) + [Classifier] + Noun.

• 我睇開嗰個醫生 (the doctor I usually see)
• 我食開嘅藥 (the medicine I usually take)

4. Continuative Aspect
開 (hoi1) also describes an action that has already been initiated and is currently ongoing or 'in the flow.' This is often used in the V開...就 pattern to suggest that since you are already doing something, you might as well continue.

• 做開就做埋佢。(Since you've started doing it, finish it off.)

5. Opportunistic Actions (While You're At It)
When used with motion verbs, 開 (hoi1) takes on an opportunistic nuance, meaning 'since you are already going somewhere, you might as well do this too.' This is a specific application of the V開...就 pattern.

• 你出開去，幫我買杯咖啡吖。(Since you're heading out anyway, buy me a cup of coffee.)
• 我行開嗰頭，順便探吓佢。(Since I was walking over that way anyway, I dropped by to visit him.)

6. Common Colloquialisms
A very common way to use this 'started' nuance is in the phrase 講開又講 (gong2 hoi1 jau6 gong2), which means 'speaking of which' or 'while we are on the subject.'

7. Temporal Flexibility
To describe past habits, simply add a time phrase like 以前 (ji5 cin4 - before/previously).

• 我以前做開運動。(I used to [habitually] exercise.)

8. Verb-Object Compounds
When using a verb-object compound, 開 (hoi1) must attach directly to the verb, before the object. For example, 'usually run' is 跑開步 (paau2 hoi1 bou6), not 跑步開。

9. Distinguishing from Complements
Do not confuse the habitual aspect with the directional or resultative complement 開, which means 'open' or 'away' (e.g., 打開 daa2 hoi1 'to open', or 走開 zau2 hoi1 'walk away'). A very common example is 行開 (haang4 hoi1). While section 5 shows it as an aspect marker meaning 'walking over that way anyway', as a complement it means 'walk away' or 'step aside' (e.g., 行開啦！ haang4 hoi1 laa1! 'Step aside!').

10. Restriction: Action Verbs Only
Like most aspect markers, 開 (hoi1) generally only attaches to action verbs. It cannot be used with stative verbs, such as emotions or cognitive states (e.g., 鍾意 zung1 ji3 'to like', 知道 zi1 dou3 'to know', 明白 ming4 baak6 'to understand'). For example, you cannot say *我鍾意開佢 (ngo5 zung1 ji3 hoi1 keoi5) to mean 'I usually like him'.