Comparison by an exact amount

Level 4Sounds Like sou3 loeng6

In Cantonese, when you want to say exactly how much 'more' or 'less' something is compared to another, you place the adjective directly before the object of comparison, followed by the specific amount. Unlike general comparisons, the particle 過 (gwo3) is usually omitted.

How It Works

This pattern is a specialized comparative construction used for quantifiable differences. While the standard way to say 'A is more [Adj] than B' uses 過 (gwo3), this specific 'exact amount' pattern typically drops the particle entirely.

Key Rules:

  • Monosyllabic Adjectives: This pattern is almost exclusively used with short, measurement-based adjectives like 大 (daai6 - big/old), 細 (sai3 - small/young), 高 (gou1 - tall), 矮 (ai2 - short), 長 (coeng4 - long), 貴 (gwai3 - expensive), and 平 (peng4 - cheap).
  • Transitive Adjectives: In this structure, the adjective acts like a verb that takes the object of comparison directly. For example, 佢大我... (keoi5 daai6 ngo5...) means 'He is older than me by...'.
  • Obligatory Quantity: The quantity phrase (Q) is mandatory in this specific word order. You cannot simply say *佢大我 (keoi5 daai6 ngo5) to mean 'He is older than me'; you must specify the difference.
  • Types of Quantities: The 'Quantity' slot can be filled by specific measurements (e.g., 兩年 loeng5 nin4 - two years) or general amount phrases like 好多 (hou2 do1 - a lot) or 少少 (siu2 siu2 - a little bit).
  • Omission of 過 (gwo3): While adding 過 (gwo3) is technically understandable, it sounds less natural when a specific quantity is involved. Native speakers prefer the direct Adj + B + Q flow.
  • Restriction: You cannot use this with subjective adjectives like 'beautiful' or 'kind'. For those, you must use the standard Adj + 過 + B + [Quantity] pattern.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢大我三年。

    He is three years older than me.

    Word by Word: He big me three years.

    大 (daai6) means 'big' but is the standard word for 'old' when comparing ages. The quantity 三年 (saam1 nin4) follows the object 我 (ngo5).

  2. 呢件衫貴嗰件五十蚊。

    This shirt is fifty dollars more expensive than that one.

    Word by Word: This [CL] shirt expensive that [CL] fifty dollars.

    貴 (gwai3) is the adjective, followed by the object of comparison 嗰件 (go2 gin6), and finally the amount 五十蚊 (ng5 sap6 man1).

  3. 條繩長呢條三吋。

    The rope is three inches longer than this one.

    Word by Word: The rope long this [CL] three inches.

    長 (coeng4) acts as the comparative head, followed by the object and the specific measurement 三吋 (saam1 cyun3).

  4. 細佬細我兩歲。

    My younger brother is two years younger than me.

    Word by Word: Younger-brother small me two years-of-age.

    細 (sai3) is used here to mean 'younger' in a comparative sense.

  5. 我高佢少少。

    I am a little bit taller than him.

    Word by Word: I tall him a-little-bit.

    Even with vague quantities like 少少 (siu2 siu2), this pattern is preferred over using 'gwo3' for measurement adjectives.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Mandarin word order (Quantity before Object).

    佢大三年我。
    佢大我三年。

    In Cantonese, the object of comparison must come immediately after the adjective, before the quantity.

  • Using 高過我兩吋 where 高我兩吋 is the shorter pattern.

    Different Meaning佢高過我兩吋。
    佢高我兩吋。

    佢高過我兩吋 is natural too. 佢高我兩吋 is shorter and is the direct pattern for an exact amount.

  • Using this pattern with subjective adjectives.

    佢靚我好多。
    佢靚過我好多。

    This specific pattern only works with measurable adjectives (size, age, price). For subjective qualities like 'pretty' (靚 leng3), you must use the 過 (gwo3) pattern.

How It Connects

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Comparison by an exact amountLevel 4

Learn This First

To understand how to compare things by an exact amount (e.g., 'one year older'), you first need to understand the basic comparative structure in Cantonese. You also need to be comfortable with numbers and classifiers to express the specific gap or difference between the two items being compared.