定(係)

Or (In Questions)

Level 2

When asking someone to choose between options in Cantonese (like 'Tea or coffee?'), use 定 (ding6) or 定係 (ding6 hai6). Do not use 或者 (waak6 ze2) for this kind of choice question!

How It Works

1. How to Use 定(係)
In spoken Cantonese, 定 (ding6) and 定係 (ding6 hai6) are used to mean 'or' when asking someone to choose between options. Both forms are interchangeable in daily speech, with 定 being the shorter form common in faster conversation.

2. Sentence Structure
Place 定(係) directly between the choices being offered:
• Nouns: 茶定係咖啡？ (Tea or coffee?)
• Verbs: 去睇戲定係留喺屋企？ (Go to a movie or stay home?)
• Time: 星期六定星期日？ (Saturday or Sunday?)

Questions using this pattern frequently end with a sentence-final particle like 呀 (aa3) or 呢 (ne1).

3. Indirect Questions
You can also use 定(係) in declarative sentences containing indirect questions or uncertainty, especially after expressions like 唔知 (m4 zi1 - don't know):
• 我唔知佢去咗日本定係韓國。 (I don't know whether he went to Japan or Korea.)

4. Crucial Difference: 定(係) vs 或者
• 定(係): Used strictly in questions (direct or indirect) where a selection is required.
• 或者 (waak6 ze2): Used in declarative statements to express non-exclusive options or possibility ('either A or B is fine', 'maybe').

Examples (4)

  1. 你要茶定係咖啡呀？

    Do you want tea or coffee?

    Word by Word: You want tea or coffee [question particle]?

    Links two noun options in a direct choice question.

  2. 你星期六定星期日得呀？

    Are you free on Saturday or Sunday?

    Word by Word: You Saturday or Sunday free [question particle]?

    Uses the shortened form 定 to ask between two time expressions.

  3. 我唔知佢去咗日本定係韓國。

    I don't know whether he went to Japan or Korea.

    Word by Word: I not know he go [past marker] Japan or Korea.

    Demonstrates 定係 in an indirect question expressing uncertainty after 唔知 (m4 zi1).

  4. 你食飯定食麵呀？

    Are you eating rice or eating noodles?

    Word by Word: You eat rice or eat noodles [question particle]?

    Links two verb phrases directly using shortened 定.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 或者 (waak6 ze2) instead of 定(係) in questions.

    你要茶或者咖啡呀？
    你要茶定係咖啡呀？

    或者 (waak6 ze2) is only used in declarative statements ('A or B is fine', 'maybe'). In choice questions, you must use 定 or 定係.

  • Using 定係 in ordinary declarative statements.

    我聽日去旺角定係尖沙咀。
    我聽日去旺角或者尖沙咀。

    When stating a plan or possibility ('I will go to Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Tsui tomorrow'), use 或者 (waak6 ze2) instead of 定係.

How It Connects

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

定(係)Level 2Or (In Questions)

Learn This First

To understand '定係' (or), you need to be familiar with the basic copula '係' which forms part of the expression, as well as basic sentence structure involving pronouns and softening particles used in questions.

Words in This Pattern

定