要嚟...

What Something Is for

Level 4Sounds Like jiu3 lai4 . . .

The pattern 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) is the standard way to say something is 'for' a specific purpose or 'used for' a particular task. It connects an object to the action it is meant to perform.

How It Works

The construction 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) is a foundational piece of colloquial Cantonese. While 要 (jiu3) usually means 'to want' or 'to need' and 嚟 (lai4) usually means 'to come', together they function as a single unit meaning 'is for' or 'is needed for'. In very casual speech, you may also hear 愛嚟 (oi3 lai4) used as a direct synonym.

Key Features:

  • Sentence Structure: It typically follows the format: Object + (係) + 要嚟 + Verb + (嘅/㗎). The 係 (hai6) is optional but common for emphasis, and sentence-final particles like 嘅 (ge3) or 㗎 (gaa3) are often used to give an explanatory tone.
  • Necessity Nuance: Compared to 用...嚟... (jung6... lai4...), which simply describes how something is used, 要嚟 often implies the object is required for the task.
  • Verb Requirement: You must follow 要嚟 with a verb. You cannot say 'This money is for rent' using only a noun; you must say 'This money is for paying rent' (呢啲錢係要嚟交租嘅 ni1 di1 cin2 hai6 jiu3 lai4 gaau1 zou1 ge3).
  • Abstract Resources: It isn't just for physical tools. It is frequently used for money (錢 cin2), time, or space.
  • Rhetorical Use: The phrase 要嚟做乜? (jiu3 lai4 zou6 mat1?) is a common way to ask 'What is the point of this?' or 'What's the use?'.

Examples (5)

  1. 呢把刀係要嚟切肉嘅。

    This knife is for cutting meat.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] knife is for cut meat [particle].

    Here, 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) identifies the specific function of the tool (the knife).

  2. 呢啲錢要嚟交租㗎。

    This money is for paying the rent.

    Word by Word: These [plural] money for pay rent [particle].

    When talking about money, 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) explains what the funds are allocated for.

  3. 你買咁多飛要嚟做乜呀？

    What do you need to buy so many tickets for?

    Word by Word: You buy so many tickets for do what [particle]?

    In questions, 要嚟做乜 (jiu3 lai4 zou6 mat1) is the standard way to ask 'What is this for?' or 'What are you going to do with that?'

  4. 呢個位要嚟擺雪櫃。

    This space is for putting the refrigerator.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] space for put refrigerator.

    This shows the pattern used with an abstract resource (space/position).

  5. 啲時間要嚟溫書，唔係要嚟玩㗎。

    Time is for studying, not for playing.

    Word by Word: The time for review books, not is for play [particle].

    This contrasts two purposes using the negative form 唔係要嚟 (m4 hai6 jiu3 lai4).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 為咗 (wai6 zo2) for functional purpose.

    呢個係為咗切肉。
    呢個係要嚟切肉嘅。

    為咗 (wai6 zo2) means 'for the sake of' or 'in order to' (often for people or reasons). For the functional use of an object, 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) is the natural choice.

  • Omitting the verb after 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4).

    呢啲錢要嚟租。
    呢啲錢要嚟交租。

    In Cantonese, you must specify the action. You don't just need money 'for rent', you need it 'to pay (交 gaau1) rent'.

  • Confusing 要嚟 (jiu3 lai4) with 'want to come'.

    佢要嚟香港 (meaning 'He is for Hong Kong').
    佢想嚟香港 (He wants to come to Hong Kong).

    When 要 (jiu3) and 嚟 (lai4) are used with a destination, they retain their literal meanings. The 'purpose' pattern requires an Object + 要嚟 + Verb structure.

How It Connects

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

要嚟...Level 4What Something Is for

Learn This First

The pattern '要嚟...' is used to describe or ask about the function of an object. It relies on understanding the modal '要' (need/must) combined with the purpose marker '嚟'. It is functionally related to the '用...嚟...' (use... to...) construction but specifically focuses on what something is 'needed for'.

Words in This Pattern