有...咁

As … as

Level 3Sounds Like jau5 . . . gam3

The pattern 有...咁 (jau5...gam3) is the standard way to say 'as... as' in Cantonese. It compares the degree of a quality between two things.

How It Works

This pattern is used to indicate that Subject A reaches the same degree or benchmark as Subject B regarding a specific quality.

Key Features:

  • Reaching a Benchmark: Unlike a simple comparison, this focuses on reaching a specific level. It is not limited to 'achievements'; you can be 有呢個咁大 (jau5 ni1 go3 gam3 daai6) (as big as this one).
  • Negation with 冇 (mou5): To say 'not as... as', you normally use 冇 (mou5) instead of 唔 (m4). For example, 冇佢咁好 (mou5 keoi5 gam3 hou2) means 'not as good as him'.
  • 咁 (gam3) vs 噉 (gam2): In this pattern, you must use the degree marker 咁 (gam3), which means 'so' or 'that'. Do not confuse it with the manner marker 噉 (gam2), which is used for 'in this way'.
  • Gradable Adjectives: It works with adjectives that describe measurable qualities, like 高 (gou1 - tall), 大 (daai6 - big), or 冷 (laang5 - cold).
  • Register: This is the standard way to express 'as... as' in spoken Cantonese. In formal writing, 同...一樣 (tung4...jat1 joeng6) is preferred.

Examples (4)

  1. 我有佢咁高。

    I am as tall as him.

    Word by Word: I have him so tall.

    A classic comparison of height. Note that 'him' (佢) comes before 'tall' (高).

  2. 呢件衫有冇嗰件咁貴呀？

    Is this shirt as expensive as that one?

    Word by Word: This [CL] shirt have-not-have that [CL] so expensive [particle]?

    Using the 有冇 (jau5 mou5) pattern to ask a question about equal degree.

  3. 佢有馬咁快。

    He is as fast as a horse.

    Word by Word: He has horse so fast.

    This compares the subject's speed to the standard of a horse.

  4. 今日冇尋日咁熱。

    Today is not as hot as yesterday.

    Word by Word: Today not-have yesterday so hot.

    The negative form 冇...咁 (mou5...gam3) is very common for saying 'not as... as'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using English word order (Adjective before Object).

    我有高佢咁。
    我有佢咁高。

    In Cantonese, the person or thing you are comparing yourself to must come immediately after 有 (jau5), followed by 咁 (gam3) and the adjective.

  • Omitting the particle 咁 (gam3).

    我有佢高。
    我有佢咁高。

    Without 咁 (gam3), the sentence is grammatically incomplete for a comparison of degree. It might sound like you are saying 'I have his height' in a literal, possessive sense.

  • Using Mandarin-style 比 (bei2) for equal comparison.

    我比佢一樣高。
    我有佢咁高。

    Mandarin uses 比 for 'than' and Cantonese also uses 比 for that (佢比我高), but 比 does not make an 'as ... as' comparison, and 一樣 cannot follow it. For equal comparison use 有...咁 (我有佢咁高), or 同...一樣 (我同佢一樣高). For 'taller than', 比 or 過 (gwo3) both work.

How It Connects

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

有...咁Level 3As … as

Learn This First

The '有...咁' pattern is an equal comparison structure. It literally translates to 'having [someone's] [degree of an adjective]'. To use it, you need to understand the basic verb 'to have' (有), how to use '咁' as a degree marker, and how adjectives function in Cantonese sentences.

Words in This Pattern