睇得出/睇唔出

Can You Tell

Level 4Sounds Like tai2 dak1 tai2 m4 ceot1

Use 睇得出 (tai2 dak1 ceot1) to say you 'can tell' something by looking, and 睇唔出 (tai2 m4 ceot1) to say you 'can't tell'.

How It Works

The pattern 睇得出 (tai2 dak1 ceot1) is a potential complement structure. It is used when you aren't just seeing an object, but are discerning a specific quality, identity, or fact that isn't immediately obvious.

1. Structure:

2. Common Verbs:
While 睇 (tai2, 'see') is the most common, this pattern works with other senses and cognitive actions:

  • 認得出 (jing6 dak1 ceot1): To recognize / identify.
  • 聽得出 (teng1 dak1 ceot1): Can tell by listening (e.g., an accent or emotion in a voice).
  • 估得出 (gu2 dak1 ceot1): Can guess correctly.
  • 摸得出 (mo2 dak1 ceot1): Can tell by touch.

3. Object Placement:
In Cantonese, the object typically follows the entire potential complement phrase. For example: 睇得出 (Verb Phrase) + 佢好唔開心 (Object Clause).

4. Colloquial Extension with 嚟 (lei4):
In spoken Cantonese, you will often hear 嚟 (lei4, 'to come') added to the end: 睇得出嚟 (tai2 dak1 ceot1 lei4) or 睇唔出嚟 (tai2 m4 ceot1 lei4). This emphasizes the idea of the truth 'coming out' or being revealed through your observation.

5. Usage Nuance:
Unlike 睇到 (tai2 dou2), which simply means 'to successfully see' something, 睇得出 implies a cognitive process. For example, you might 睇到 (see) a person, but you 睇唔出 (cannot tell) that they are actually a famous actor in disguise.

Examples (5)

  1. 我睇唔出佢幾多歲。

    I can't tell how old he is.

    Word by Word: I see not out he how many years-old.

    Here, 睇唔出 (tai2 m4 ceot1) shows that even by looking, the person's age is not discernable.

  2. 聽得出佢今日好唔開心。

    I can tell (from his voice) that he is very unhappy today.

    Word by Word: Hear can out he today very not happy.

    聽得出 (teng1 dak1 ceot1) is used because the information (unhappiness) is being discerned through the sound of the voice.

  3. 你認唔認得出佢係邊個？

    Can you recognize who he is?

    Word by Word: You recognize not recognize can out he is who?

    This uses the verb 認 (jing6, to recognize) in an A-not-A question to ask if someone can be identified.

  4. 佢扮得好似，我完全睇唔出嚟。

    He's acting so well, I can't tell at all.

    Word by Word: He act till very similar, I completely see not out come.

    This example adds 嚟 (lei4) to the end, a common colloquial way to emphasize the result 'coming out' or being revealed.

  5. 我睇得出呢件係假貨。

    I can tell this one is a fake.

    Word by Word: I see can out this CL is fake goods.

    Note that the object (the fake goods) follows the entire potential complement phrase 睇得出 (tai2 dak1 ceot1).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'can' (可以) instead of the potential complement.

    我唔可以睇佢好唔開心。
    我睇唔出佢好唔開心。

    In Cantonese, 'can't tell' is almost always expressed using the potential complement 睇唔出 (tai2 m4 ceot1). Using 可以 (ho2 ji5) sounds like you are not allowed to look at them.

  • Confusing 'seeing' with 'discerning'.

    我睇唔到佢係假嘅。
    我睇唔出佢係假嘅。

    睇唔到 (tai2 m4 dou2) means you physically cannot see the object (e.g., it's too dark). 睇唔出 (tai2 m4 ceot1) means you see it, but you can't identify its true nature (that it's fake).

How It Connects

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睇得出/睇唔出Level 4Can You Tell

Learn This First

The pattern '睇得出/睇唔出' (can/cannot tell) is a specific application of the potential complement structure. To understand it, learners need to know how the directional particle '出' (outward) functions as a resultative complement meaning 'to notice' or 'to identify'. Additionally, they must understand the 'Long Potential' grammar, which uses '得' for 'can' and '唔' for 'cannot' between a verb and its complement.

Words in This Pattern

睇得出