望一眼

Body-part Verbal Classifiers

Level 4Sounds Like mong6 jat1 ngaan5

Verb + (Object) + 一 (jat1) + [Body Part / Action Classifier] + (Object)

How It Works

This pattern is a vivid way to describe physical actions. Instead of using a generic counter like 次 (ci3, 'times') or the common 下 (haa5, 'a brief instance'), Cantonese 'borrows' the noun for the body part involved or uses a specific action classifier.

Key Features:

  • Structure: The pattern follows the order: Verb + 一 (jat1) + Classifier.
  • Object Placement: The position of the object depends on what it is. Pronouns (like 我, 你, 佢) have a strong grammatical preference to go between the verb and the counter phrase: Verb + Pronoun + 一 + Classifier (e.g., 望佢一眼 mong6 keoi5 jat1 ngaan5 'give him a glance'). However, placing a pronoun after the classifier (e.g., 望一眼佢) is also used colloquially, especially when modifiers like 多 (do1) are added (e.g., 望多一眼佢 mong6 do1 jat1 ngaan5 keoi5). Furthermore, when the number 一 is dropped with dedicated action classifiers, placing the pronoun after the classifier becomes the standard and highly natural structure (e.g., 打巴佢 daa2 baa1 keoi5 'slap him', 咬啖佢 ngaau5 daam6 keoi5 'take a bite of it'). Full nouns are flexible and can go either before or after the counter phrase (e.g., 望個鐘一眼 mong6 go3 zung1 jat1 ngaan5 or 望一眼個鐘 mong6 jat1 ngaan5 go3 zung1). Placing the noun after the classifier puts slightly more focus on the action itself ('take a glance at the clock'), whereas placing it before treats the object as the topic ('give the clock a glance').
  • Aspect Markers: Aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 過 (gwo3) attach directly to the verb, before the pronoun and the classifier phrase: Verb + Aspect Marker + Pronoun + 一 + Classifier (e.g., 望咗佢一眼 mong6 zo2 keoi5 jat1 ngaan5 'gave him a glance').
  • Keeping the Number 一: For borrowed body parts, the number 一 (jat1) is generally kept. Dropping it can change the meaning; for example, 望眼 (mong6 ngaan5) sounds like a verb-object compound meaning 'looking at eyes' rather than 'taking a glance'. However, for dedicated action classifiers (like 啖 or 巴), dropping 一 is extremely common and perfectly natural in colloquial Cantonese.
  • Varying the Quantity: You can swap 一 for other numbers or quantities like 兩 (loeng5, 'two') or 幾 (gei2, 'a few'). You can also add 多 (do1) before the number to mean 'one more [action]' (e.g., 望多一眼 mong6 do1 jat1 ngaan5 'take one more glance').
  • Emphatic Negative: A highly common use case for this pattern is the emphatic negative structure: Verb + 都 + 唔/冇 + Verb + 一 + Classifier. This means 'didn't even [verb] a single [classifier]' (e.g., 望都冇望一眼 mong6 dou1 mou5 mong6 jat1 ngaan5 'didn't even take a single glance').
  • Borrowed vs. Dedicated Classifiers: Some counters are actual body part nouns (like 腳 goek3 'foot' or 眼 ngaan5 'eye'), while others are dedicated verbal classifiers for specific actions (like 啖 (daam6) for bites/mouthfuls or 巴 baa1 for slaps). The word 下 (haa5) remains the most common generic alternative when a specific body part isn't emphasized.

Common Pairings:

  • Borrowed Body Parts:
    • 睇 (tai2, look/watch) or 望 (mong6, look) + 眼 (ngaan5, eye): 望一眼 (mong6 jat1 ngaan5) or 睇一眼 (tai2 jat1 ngaan5) - To take a glance.
    • 踢 (tek3, kick) + 腳 (goek3, leg/foot): 踢一腳 (tek3 jat1 goek3) - To give a kick.
  • Dedicated Action Classifiers:
    • 咬 (ngaau5, bite) + 啖 (daam6, mouthful): 咬一啖 (ngaau5 jat1 daam6) - To take a bite.
    • 打 (daa2, hit) + 巴 (baa1, slap): 打一巴 (daa2 jat1 baa1) - To give a slap.
  • Tools:
    • 斬 (zaam2, chop) + 刀 (dou1, knife): 斬一刀 (zaam2 jat1 dou1) - To give a chop with a knife.
    • 剪 (zin2, cut) + 鉸剪 (gaau3 zin2, scissors): 剪一鉸剪 (zin2 jat1 gaau3 zin2) - To give a snip.
    • 打 (daa2, hit) + 鞭 (bin1, whip): 打一鞭 (daa2 jat1 bin1) - To give a whip.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢頭先望咗我一眼。

    He just took a glance at me.

    Word by Word: He just-now look [perfective] me one eye.

    Using 望一眼 (mong6 jat1 ngaan5) implies a quick look rather than a long stare.

  2. 衰鬼，等我踢你一腳！

    You brat, let me give you a kick!

    Word by Word: Bad ghost, wait me kick you one foot!

    踢一腳 (tek3 jat1 goek3) is a common colloquial way to express the act of kicking someone once.

  3. 過嚟錫我一啖。

    Come here and give me a kiss.

    Word by Word: Come over kiss me one mouthful.

    In Cantonese, 啖 (daam6, mouthful) is the standard verbal classifier for both biting and kissing.

  4. 我只係咬咗個蘋果一啖咋。

    I only took one bite of the apple.

    Word by Word: I only is bite [perfective] [classifier] apple one mouthful [only].

    For full nouns like 蘋果 (ping4 gwo2), the object can be placed either before the verbal classifier phrase (as shown here) or after it (咬咗一啖個蘋果).

  5. 佢畀人摑咗一巴。

    He was given a slap (by someone).

    Word by Word: He by person slap [perfective] one palm.

    巴 (baa1) refers to the palm of the hand, used specifically for slapping.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 次 (ci3) for a glance.

    Different Meaning佢望咗我一次。
    佢望咗我一眼。

    佢望咗我一次 is a correct sentence, but it means he looked at me one time. For a quick glance, use 一眼 (jat1 ngaan5).

  • Using the wrong body part noun (e.g., using 'hand' for a slap).

    摑一手
    摑一巴

    Cantonese uses specific nouns for these classifiers. For a slap, you must use 巴 (baa1, palm), not 手 (sau2, hand).

  • Confusing the verbal classifier with a direct object.

    咬個口
    咬一啖

    咬個口 literally means 'bite the mouth.' To say 'take a bite,' you must use the verbal classifier 啖 (daam6).

How It Connects

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

望一眼Level 4Body-part Verbal Classifiers

Learn This First

The pattern '望一眼' (take a glance) uses a body part as a verbal classifier. To understand this, learners need to be familiar with the basic 'Number + Classifier' counting structure and the concept of verbal classifiers (like '下') which indicate the frequency or duration of an action.

Words in This Pattern

一眼