V開...就

While You Are at It

Level 4Sounds Like hoi1 . . . zau6

The pattern V開...就 (V hoi1... zau6) is used to say 'Since you are doing [Action X] anyway...' or 'While you are at it...'. It frames the first action as an existing opportunity to perform a second, convenient action.

How It Works

This pattern is essential for natural, colloquial Cantonese requests. It follows a specific structure:

[Subject] + Verb + 開 (hoi1) + [Object/Location] + 就 (zau6) + [Result/Request]

Key features of this usage:

  • Incidental Logic: It implies the speaker is taking advantage of a coincidence of timing or path. For example, if you are already going to the kitchen, it is convenient to bring back a glass of water.
  • Common Verbs: It most frequently attaches to motion verbs like 去 (heoi3, 'to go'), 返 (faan1, 'to return'), or activity verbs like 講 (gong2, 'to speak') and 做 (zou6, 'to do').
  • The Role of 就 (zau6): The word 就 (zau6) is mandatory here to link the situation to the consequence. It is very common to add 順便 (seon6 bin2, 'conveniently/by the way') after 就 to further emphasize the 'while you're at it' nuance.
  • Register: This is highly informal and spoken. In formal writing, one would use 既然 (gei3 jin4, 'since') instead.

Examples (4)

  1. 你行開超市就幫我買支奶啦。

    Since you're going to the supermarket anyway, buy a bottle of milk for me.

    Word by Word: You go [incidental] supermarket then help me buy bottle milk [particle].

    Here, 行開 (haang4 hoi1) frames the trip to the supermarket as the 'incidental' context that makes the request for milk convenient.

  2. 講開又講，你份報告做成點呀？

    Speaking of which, how is your report coming along?

    Word by Word: Speak [incidental] also speak, you [classifier] report do until how [particle]?

    This is a fixed idiom. 講開 (gong2 hoi1) means 'since we are on the topic anyway' or 'now that you mention it'.

  3. 既然你做開，就做埋佢啦。

    Since you're doing it anyway, you might as well finish it off.

    Word by Word: Since you do [incidental], then do [completive] it [particle].

    The speaker uses 做開 (zou6 hoi1) to suggest that because the person has already started the task, finishing it (埋 maai4) is the logical next step.

  4. 你返開公司就順便幫我攞部電腦吖。

    Since you're going back to the office anyway, could you grab my computer for me?

    Word by Word: You return [incidental] office then conveniently help me take [classifier] computer [particle].

    The addition of 順便 (seon6 bin2) is very common with this pattern to emphasize the convenience of the favor.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the '就' (zau6) in the second clause.

    Different Meaning你去開街市幫我買菜。
    你去開街市就幫我買菜。

    你去開街市幫我買菜 is natural; 就 (zau6) is optional. Adding it stresses 'while you are there'.

  • Confusing 'incidental' usage with 'habitual' usage.

    我食開呢間就好好食。
    我食開呢間，覺得好好食。

    If you mean 'I usually eat here' (habitual), you don't use the '就' pattern. The 'V開...就' structure is specifically for 'Since I am doing it now/anyway...'

How It Connects

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

V開...就Level 4While You Are at It

Learn This First

The pattern 'V開...就' is a conditional structure used to make a request or suggestion based on an action the listener is already performing or planning to perform. It requires understanding the aspect marker '開' (in its continuative or habitual sense) and the logical connector '就' used in conditional 'if... then' sentences.

Words in This Pattern

开