所...嘅

Classical Nominaliser 所

Level 5Sounds Like so2 . . . ge3

The pattern [Subject] + 所 (so2) + [Verb] + 嘅 (ge3) is a formal way to say 'the [Noun] that [Subject] [Verbs]'. It is used in professional, legal, and academic contexts to add precision and a serious tone.

How It Works

The 所...嘅 (so2... ge3) construction is a formal nominalizer inherited from Classical Chinese. It is primarily used in high-register Cantonese, such as news broadcasts, government documents, and legal proceedings.

1. Syntactic Structure:
The structure is: [Subject] + 所 + [Transitive Verb] + 嘅 + [Noun].
Example: 法律所賦予嘅權利 (The rights granted by the law).

2. Key Constraints:

  • Transitive Verbs Only: The verb must be one that takes an object. The noun being modified must be the object (the patient) of that verb, not the subject.
  • Formal Register: This pattern is almost never used in casual conversation. Using it while chatting with friends will make you sound like a textbook or a lawyer.
  • Redundancy: In modern grammar, 所 is technically redundant because 嘅 already performs the relative clause function. However, 所 acts as a 'register-shifter' to signal formality.

3. Common Fixed Expressions:
Even in semi-formal speech, you may hear fixed phrases like 據我所知 (geoi3 ngo5 so2 zi1 - 'as far as I know') or 所見所聞 (so2 gin3 so2 man4 - 'what one sees and hears').

Examples (4)

  1. 據我所知，聽日會落雨。

    As far as I know, it will rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: According to I [nominalizer] know, tomorrow will fall rain.

    據我所知 (geoi3 ngo5 so2 zi1) is a very common formal set phrase meaning 'according to what I know'.

  2. 原告所提供嘅證據好充足。

    The evidence provided by the plaintiff is very sufficient.

    Word by Word: Plaintiff [nominalizer] provide [possessive] evidence very sufficient.

    In this legal context, 所 (so2) clarifies that the 'evidence' is the object being provided by the 'plaintiff'.

  3. 呢個係法律所賦予嘅權利。

    This is a right granted by the law.

    Word by Word: This one is law [nominalizer] grant [possessive] right.

    賦予 (fu3 jyu5) is a formal verb for 'to grant/bestow'. The 所...嘅 construction matches this high-level vocabulary.

  4. 我所認識嘅人入面，佢最勤力。

    Among the people I know, he is the most hardworking.

    Word by Word: I [nominalizer] know [possessive] people inside, he most hardworking.

    Using 所 (so2) here makes the statement sound more deliberate and precise than simply saying 我認識嘅人.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 所 in an everyday sentence about a place you go.

    Different Meaning我所去嘅地方好遠。
    我去嘅地方好遠。

    所 (so2) is a bookish word. 我所去嘅地方 is grammatical in writing, but in speech it sounds stiff. Use plain 我去嘅地方.

  • Using 所 in casual, everyday conversation.

    Different Meaning我所食嘅飯好熱。
    我食嘅飯好熱。

    我所食嘅飯好熱 is grammatical, but 所 (so2) is bookish, so it sounds stiff for eating rice. In everyday speech, just use 嘅 (ge3).

How It Connects

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

所...嘅Level 5Classical Nominaliser 所

Learn This First

The '所...嘅' pattern is a formal relative clause construction. It builds upon the basic Cantonese nominaliser '嘅' and the standard relative clause structure, but inserts the classical marker '所' before the verb to create a more formal or legalistic tone, typically used to refer to the object of an action (e.g., 'that which was provided').

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

所