有得 + V

There's the Option to

Level 4Sounds Like jau5 dak1

有得 (jau5 dak1) + Verb is the standard way in spoken Cantonese to say you 'have the chance' or 'have the option' to do something because the opportunity is available.

How It Works

The pattern 有得 (jau5 dak1) + Verb is a core feature of colloquial Cantonese. It functions as an existential modal, asserting that the external conditions allow for an action to take place.

1. Usage and Nuance
Use this pattern when you want to emphasize that an option is 'on the table' or that a resource is available. For example, 有得食 (jau5 dak1 sik6) doesn't just mean you are capable of eating; it means there is food there for you to eat.

2. Negation and Questions

  • Negation: To say there is no option or opportunity, use 冇得 (mou5 dak1). For example, 冇得傾 (mou5 dak1 king1) means 'no room for negotiation.'
  • Questions: To ask if an opportunity exists, use the 有冇 (jau5 mou5) pattern: 有冇得... (jau5 mou5 dak1...).

3. Grammatical Constraints

  • Fixed Structure: You cannot put aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2) between 有 and 得.
  • Time Reference: Unlike many Cantonese verbs, this construction does not typically take aspect markers. The opportunity itself is treated as a state. To indicate past or future opportunities, use time adverbs like 之前 (zi1 cin4, 'before') or 遲啲 (ci4 di1, 'later').
  • Register: This is highly informal and spoken. In formal writing, you would use 有機會 (jau5 gei1 wui6, 'have the opportunity') or 可以 (ho2 ji5).

4. Distinction from Potential Complements
Do not confuse this with the suffix V + 得 (dak1). While 食得 (sik6 dak1) means 'edible' or 'can eat now,' 有得食 (jau5 dak1 sik6) means 'there is food available to be eaten.'

Examples (6)

  1. 有得揀，你仲會唔會噉做？

    If there were a choice, would you still do it?

    Word by Word: Have opportunity choose, you still will [not] will so do?

    Here, 有得揀 (jau5 dak1 gaan2) implies the existence of an alternative option or choice.

  2. 呢件事仲有得傾。

    This matter is still negotiable.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] matter still have opportunity talk.

    傾 (king1) means to talk or negotiate. This sentence suggests the 'option to talk' still exists.

  3. 好彩今日有得放假。

    Luckily, I get to have a day off today.

    Word by Word: Good luck today have opportunity release holiday.

    This expresses that the opportunity for a holiday was provided by external circumstances.

  4. 聽晚有得睇波呀！

    There's a ball game to watch tomorrow night!

    Word by Word: Tomorrow night have opportunity watch ball [particle]!

    This indicates the game is being broadcasted or available to view, providing the opportunity.

  5. 呢度冇得食煙㗎。

    You can't smoke here (there is no option to smoke).

    Word by Word: Here not-have opportunity eat smoke [particle].

    This uses the negative form 冇得 (mou5 dak1) to show that the option is unavailable due to rules or conditions.

  6. 聽日有冇得去行山呀？

    Is there a chance to go hiking tomorrow?

    Word by Word: Tomorrow have not-have opportunity go walk mountain [particle]?

    This uses the interrogative form 有冇得 (jau5 mou5 dak1) to ask if the opportunity will exist.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 有得 to say you know a language.

    Different Meaning我有得講廣東話。
    我識講廣東話。

    我有得講廣東話 is a good sentence, but it means you have the chance to speak Cantonese, for example because you live in Hong Kong. To say you know how to, use 識 (sik1): 我識講廣東話.

  • Redundantly combining with 可以 (ho2 ji5).

    你可以有得去。
    你有得去。

    Both words express possibility. Combining them is repetitive. Choose 有得 to emphasize the opportunity itself.

How It Connects

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

有得 + VLevel 4There's the Option to

Learn This First

To understand '有得 + V', you need to be familiar with the existential use of '有' (there is) and how '得' functions as a marker of potential or permission. This pattern essentially combines these to mean 'there exists the possibility/permission to V'.

Words in This Pattern

有得