講畀...聽

Tell (Someone)

Level 2

Use the pattern 講畀...聽 (gong2 bei2 ... teng1) to express 'telling' or 'narrating' something to a listener. It literally means 'speak to [someone] [so they] listen.'

How It Works

The structure 講畀...聽 (gong2 bei2 ... teng1) is a fundamental part of Cantonese speech. Unlike English, which uses a single verb 'tell,' Cantonese uses a chain of verbs to describe the process of communication.

1. The Components:

  • 講 (gong2): The action of speaking or narrating.
  • 畀 (bei2): Functions here as a dative marker (like 'to' in English) to introduce the recipient.
  • 聽 (teng1): A resultative verb meaning 'to listen.' It completes the frame, indicating that the recipient is the one hearing the information.

2. Word Order:
The standard order is: [Subject] + 講 + 畀 + [Recipient] + 聽 + [Message].
If you are telling a specific object (like a story or a secret), the object usually comes after 講: 講 + [Object] + 畀 + [Recipient] + 聽.

3. Nuance and Usage:
This pattern implies a narrative process. It is used for sharing experiences, stories, or explanations. If you simply want to 'inform' someone of a fact (like a time or a location), you would more likely use 話畀...知 (waa6 bei2 ... zi1) instead.

Examples (5)

  1. 佢講畀我聽佢去咗日本。

    He told me that he went to Japan.

    Word by Word: He speak to me listen he go [perfective] Japan.

    Here, 講畀我聽 (gong2 bei2 ngo5 teng1) acts as the frame for 'told me.' The aspect marker 咗 (zo2) is attached to the verb 'go' in the sub-clause.

  2. 唔好講畀人聽呀！

    Don't tell anyone!

    Word by Word: Not good speak to people listen [particle]!

    人 (jan4) here means 'other people' or 'anyone.' The phrase 唔好 (m4 hou2) is used for 'don't.'

  3. 阿玲講畀我聽佢就嚟結婚。

    Ah Ling told me she's getting married soon.

    Word by Word: Ah Ling speak to me listen she soon come marry.

    This shows the pattern used for sharing news. 就嚟 (zau6 lai4) indicates something is about to happen.

  4. 你可唔可以講個故事畀我聽？

    Can you tell me a story?

    Word by Word: You can not can speak [classifier] story to me listen?

    When there is a direct object like 'a story' (個故事), it is placed immediately after the verb 講 (gong2).

  5. 我想講個秘密畀你聽。

    I want to tell you a secret.

    Word by Word: I want speak [classifier] secret to you listen.

    The verb 想 (soeng2) expresses the desire to perform the action of telling.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the final verb 聽 (teng1).

    佢講畀我佢去咗邊。
    佢講畀我聽佢去咗邊。

    In Cantonese, the frame 講畀...聽 is a set structure. Leaving out 聽 (teng1) makes the sentence feel incomplete and unnatural to native speakers.

  • Misplacing the recipient after the message.

    講個故事我聽畀。
    講個故事畀我聽。

    The recipient must immediately follow the word 畀 (bei2). The message or object can come after 講 (gong2) or at the very end of the sentence.

How It Connects

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

講畀...聽Level 2Tell (Someone)

Learn This First

To understand '講畀...聽' (tell someone), you need to know the verb '講' (to speak) and how '畀' functions as a marker for a recipient. Since this pattern involves a listener placed between '畀' and '聽', familiarity with basic pronouns and the general logic of double-object structures in Cantonese is essential.

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