落 / 落去

Judging by vs. Keeping on

Level 4Sounds Like lok6 lok6 heoi3

落 (lok6) = 'Judging by...' (Evaluative)
落去 (lok6 heoi3) = 'Keep on...' (Continuative)

How It Works

In colloquial Cantonese, these two directional particles are frequently used in non-literal ways:

1. The Evaluative 落 (lok6):
This particle attaches to sensory or mental verbs like 聽 (teng1, hear), 睇 (tai2, see), 諗 (nam2, think), or 食 (sik6, eat/taste). It translates to 'judging by [verb]ing' or 'upon [verb]ing.' It indicates that the speaker is forming a subjective opinion based on that specific action.

  • 聽落 (teng1 lok6): Sounds like / Judging by hearing it...
  • 睇落 (tai2 lok6): Looks like / Judging by appearances...
  • 諗落 (nam2 lok6): Thinking about it / Upon reflection...

2. The Continuative 落去 (lok6 heoi3):
This functions as a continuative aspect marker. It indicates that an action which has already started will continue forward into the future, often implying persistence or duration. Unlike the evaluative 落, this can be used with almost any action verb.

  • 行落去 (haang4 lok6 heoi3): Keep on walking
  • 做落去 (zou6 lok6 heoi3): Keep on doing
  • 等落去 (dang2 lok6 heoi3): Keep on waiting

Examples (5)

  1. 呢首歌聽落好有親切感。

    This song sounds very familiar.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] song hear-down very have close-feeling.

    Here, 聽落 (teng1 lok6) indicates a judgment based on the act of listening.

  2. 你再咁樣打落去會死㗎！

    If you keep on fighting like that, you're gonna get killed!

    Word by Word: You again like-this fight-down-go will die [particle]!

    打落去 (daa2 lok6 heoi3) shows the action of fighting continuing into the future.

  3. 諗落又好似幾有道理。

    Thinking about it, it seems to make sense.

    Word by Word: Think-down also seem quite have reason.

    諗落 (nam2 lok6) is used for a mental evaluation after reflecting on something.

  4. 我唔可以再喺呢度等落去。

    I cannot keep on waiting here anymore.

    Word by Word: I not can again at here wait-down-go.

    等落去 (dang2 lok6 heoi3) emphasizes the continuation of the waiting state.

  5. 件衫睇落好貴，但其實好平。

    The shirt looks expensive, but it's actually very cheap.

    Word by Word: [Classifier] shirt see-down very expensive, but actually very cheap.

    睇落 (tai2 lok6) expresses an impression based on visual observation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'lok6' as a short form for 'lok6 heoi3' (continuation).

    你聽落，唔好停。
    你聽落去，唔好停。

    In Cantonese, 聽落 (teng1 lok6) exclusively means 'sounds like.' To say 'keep on listening,' you must use the full form 聽落去 (teng1 lok6 heoi3).

  • Using the Mandarin-style 'haa6 heoi3' in casual speech.

    Different Meaning做下去。
    做落去。

    While 下去 (haa6 heoi3) is used in Standard Written Chinese, 落去 (lok6 heoi3) is the natural, colloquial choice for spoken Cantonese.

How It Connects

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

落 / 落去Level 4Judging by vs. Keeping on

Learn This First

This comparison explains when to use 落去 versus related patterns.