好似...咁

Like / as if

Level 2Sounds Like hou2 ci5 . . . gam3

The pattern 好似...咁 (hou2 ci5... gam2) is the standard way to make comparisons or describe impressions in spoken Cantonese. It functions like the English 'like', 'as if', or 'it seems'.

How It Works

In Cantonese, comparisons are often framed as a 'manner' of being. The word 好似 (hou2 ci5) introduces the comparison, and the particle 咁 (gam2) acts as a closing bracket that means 'in this way'.

1. Basic Structure:
The most common form is: [Subject] + 好似 + [Noun/Clause] + 咁.
Example: 佢好似細路仔咁 (He is like a kid).

2. The Particle 咁 (gam2):
Technically, the character should be 噉 (gam2, high-rising tone), meaning 'like this'. However, in written Cantonese, people almost always write 咁 (which is usually gam3). When you see it in this pattern, remember to pronounce it with the rising gam2 tone.

3. Describing Impressions:
You can use this to describe a situation that 'seems' a certain way by putting a whole clause in the middle.
Example: 好似想落雨咁 (It seems as if it's going to rain).

4. Adjective Comparisons:
When comparing a specific quality (e.g., 'as cold as snow'), the 咁 often acts as an intensifier. In these cases, it is often pronounced gam3 (mid level tone).
Example: 好似雪咁凍 (As cold as snow).

Examples (5)

  1. 佢好似細路仔咁。

    He is like a little kid.

    Word by Word: He very-like small-road-son like-this.

    Here, '細路仔' (sai3 lou6 zai2) is the noun being compared to the subject.

  2. 出面好似想落雨咁。

    It seems as if it's going to rain outside.

    Word by Word: Outside very-like want fall-rain like-this.

    This uses a clause '想落雨' (soeng2 lok6 jyu5) to describe an impression of the weather.

  3. 呢度好似雪咁凍。

    This place is as cold as snow.

    Word by Word: This-place very-like snow so cold.

    When an adjective like '凍' (dung3) follows, the pattern functions as 'as [adjective] as [noun]'.

  4. 你唔好好似佢咁懶啦。

    Don't be as lazy as him.

    Word by Word: You not-good very-like him like-this lazy [particle].

    This combines the comparison with 唔好 (m4 hou2) to give a piece of advice.

  5. 佢講嘢好似食咗火藥咁。

    He speaks as if he's eaten gunpowder (he's very angry).

    Word by Word: He speak-thing very-like eat-perfective fire-medicine like-this.

    A common idiom using 咗 (zo2) to describe someone's aggressive manner of speaking.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing '咁' before the noun, influenced by English word order.

    佢好似咁細路仔。
    佢好似細路仔咁。

    In Cantonese, the particle 咁 (gam2) must come after the noun or clause being compared, not before it.

  • Using 一樣 (jat1 joeng6) instead of 咁.

    Different Meaning佢好似細路仔一樣。
    佢好似細路仔咁。

    佢好似細路仔一樣 is natural and common in speech and writing. 咁 (gam2) is a shorter way to say the same thing, which is the form this pattern teaches.

How It Connects

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

好似...咁Level 2Like / as if

Learn This First

To use the '好似...咁' (like / as if) pattern, you need to understand the basic verb '好似' (to seem) and how the degree marker '咁' functions as a correlative particle to complete the comparison frame.

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