諗住

Plan to

Level 3Sounds Like nam2 zyu6

諗住 (nam2 zyu6) is the most common way in spoken Cantonese to say you are 'planning to' or 'thinking of' doing something. It describes a state of mind where you are 'holding' an intention. Note: Due to the n/l sound merger in modern Cantonese, you will almost always hear this pronounced as 'lam2 zyu6'.

How It Works

1. Expressing Intentions
When followed by a verb phrase, 諗住 (nam2 zyu6) indicates a plan. It is more casual than the formal word 打算 (daa2 syun3). It often implies the plan is internal and not yet set in stone.
Example: 我諗住去食飯 (ngo5 nam2 zyu6 heoi3 sik6 faan6) - 'I'm thinking of going to eat.'

To negate this, you can use 唔 (m4) to form 唔諗住 (m4 nam2 zyu6), meaning 'not planning to'. However, the more dominant and common way to express a lack of intention is using 冇 (mou5) to form 冇諗住 (mou5 nam2 zyu6), which expresses a lack of prior intention ('didn't plan to' or 'have no intention to').
Example: 我冇諗住買呢件衫 (ngo5 mou5 nam2 zyu6 maai5 ni1 gin6 saam1) - 'I didn't plan to buy this shirt.'

To ask a question, use the A-not-A form 諗唔諗住 (nam2 m4 nam2 zyu6) or the past/general intention form 有冇諗住 (jau5 mou5 nam2 zyu6).
Example: 你諗唔諗住返去？ (nei5 nam2 m4 nam2 zyu6 faan1 heoi3?) - 'Are you planning to go back?'
Example: 你有冇諗住轉工？ (nei5 jau5 mou5 nam2 zyu6 zyun3 gung1?) - 'Have you thought about changing jobs?'

2. Past Intentions (Thwarted Plans)
In past contexts, it often implies that you intended to do something but didn't actually do it. You will frequently see it paired with 但係 (daan6 hai6, 'but') or 點知 (dim2 zi1, 'who knew / but then').
Example: 我本來諗住搵你... (ngo5 bun2 loi4 nam2 zyu6 wan2 nei5...) - 'I was originally planning to look for you (but...)'

3. Assumptions and Estimations
When followed by a full clause, it can mean 'I thought that...' or 'I assumed that...'. This usage usually implies the speaker was wrong about the situation. In this specific context, 諗住 acts as a colloquial equivalent to 以為 (ji5 wai4).
Example: 我諗住你唔嚟添！ (ngo5 nam2 zyu6 nei5 m4 lai4 tim1!) - 'I thought you weren't coming (but you did)!'
It can also be used for a neutral, present/future estimation meaning 'I reckon' or 'I figure' (similar to 估 - gu2).
Example: 我諗住佢聽日會到 (ngo5 nam2 zyu6 keoi5 ting1 jat6 wui5 dou3) - 'I figure he will arrive tomorrow.'

4. Keeping Someone/Something in Mind
When followed by a noun or pronoun, 諗住 retains its literal meaning of 'keeping a thought' or 'continuously thinking about' someone or something, thanks to the durative aspect marker 住 (zyu6).
Example: 我成日都諗住你 (ngo5 sing4 jat6 dou1 nam2 zyu6 nei5) - 'I am always thinking about you.'

5. Comparison with Other Patterns

  • vs. 想 (soeng2): 想 expresses a desire ('I want to'), while 諗住 expresses an intention ('I plan to').
  • vs. 緊 (gan2): 諗緊 (nam2 gan2) means you are actively in the process of thinking right now. 諗住 means the thought is already formed as a plan or kept in mind.

Examples (5)

  1. 我諗住聽日去行山。

    I'm planning to go hiking tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I think-staying tomorrow go walk mountain.

    Here, 諗住 (nam2 zyu6) shows a future intention.

  2. 佢諗住買新車，但係冇錢。

    He's thinking of buying a new car, but he has no money.

    Word by Word: He think-staying buy new car, but not-have money.

    This shows an internal plan that might not be realistic.

  3. 我本來諗住搵你，但係唔記得咗。

    I was originally thinking of looking for you, but I forgot.

    Word by Word: I originally think-staying find you, but not remember [perfective].

    Using 諗住 (nam2 zyu6) with 'originally' (本來 bun2 loi4) often indicates a plan that changed.

  4. 我諗住你唔嚟添！

    I thought you weren't coming!

    Word by Word: I think-staying you not come [extra]!

    In this context, it expresses a mistaken assumption. The particle 添 (tim1) adds a sense of surprise.

  5. 你諗住幾時走呀？

    When are you planning to leave?

    Word by Word: You think-staying when leave [question]?

    A common way to ask about someone's intentions.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the aspect marker 住 with the verb 'to live'.

    我諗住喺香港。
    我諗住喺香港住。

    In the pattern 諗住, the 'zyu6' is a grammatical marker, not the verb 'to live'. If you want to say 'I plan to live in Hong Kong,' you need to include the verb 'live' (住 zyu6) separately at the end.

How It Connects

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諗住Level 3Plan to

Learn This First

To understand '諗住' (plan to), learners first need to know the base verb '諗' (to think) and how the aspect marker '住' functions to indicate a continuous state or holding an action. Familiarity with '想' (want) is also helpful as '諗住' serves as a more specific way to express intention or a tentative plan.

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Words in This Pattern

谂住谂