同埋

And (Joining Nouns)

Level 1Sounds Like tung4 maai4

同埋 (tung4 maai4) is the standard spoken Cantonese word for 'and' and 'with'. It connects nouns, adjectives, or entire phrases in everyday conversation.

How It Works

1. Basic Meaning & Function
同埋 (tung4 maai4) is the primary colloquial Cantonese connector used for 'and' or 'with'. It appears everywhere in daily spoken Cantonese.

2. How to Use It

  • Listing Nouns: In a list of items, 同埋 is placed right before the final item ($N_1$, $N_2$, 同埋 + $N_3$). Example: 豆腐、菜同埋奶 (tofu, vegetables, and milk).
  • 'With' / Accompaniment: Subject + 同埋 + Person + (一齊) + Verb Phrase. Example: 我同埋你一齊去 (I will go together with you).
  • Connecting Qualities or Clauses: Clause 1 + 同埋 + Clause 2. Example: 佢好聰明，同埋好勤力 (S/he is very smart, and also very hardworking).

3. Key Distinctions

  • 同埋 vs. 同: While both mean 'and' / 'with', plain 同 (tung4) can also mean 'to' (同我講 - talk to me), 'for' (同我買 - buy for me), or 'from' (同佢借 - borrow from him). 同埋 cannot perform these prepositional functions.
  • 同埋 vs. 跟住 / 然後: 同埋 adds items or qualities simultaneously ('and also'). To connect sequential actions in order of time ('and then'), use 跟住 (gan1 zyu6) or 然後 (jin4 hau6) instead.

4. Register Note
同埋 belongs purely to spoken Cantonese. In Standard Written Chinese or formal announcements, use 和 (wo4), 與 (jyu5), or 及 (kap6).

Examples (4)

  1. 我要買豆腐、菜同埋奶。

    I need to buy tofu, vegetables, and milk.

    Word by Word: I want buy tofu, vegetables, and milk.

    同埋 (tung4 maai4) joins the final item in a list of nouns.

  2. 我同埋你一齊去啦。

    I'll go together with you.

    Word by Word: I with you together go [particle].

    Here, 同埋 (tung4 maai4) works as 'with' to show accompaniment.

  3. 佢好聰明，同埋好勤力。

    S/he is very smart, and also very hardworking.

    Word by Word: S/he very smart, and also very hardworking.

    同埋 (tung4 maai4) links two descriptive qualities ('and also').

  4. 爸爸、媽媽同埋我一齊食飯。

    Dad, Mom, and I eat a meal together.

    Word by Word: Dad, Mom, and I together eat rice.

    In a group of people, 同埋 (tung4 maai4) precedes the last person listed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 同埋 to mean 'for', 'to', or 'from' someone.

    我同埋你買包煙。
    我同你買包煙。

    Plain 同 (tung4) can mean 'for' (e.g. 'buy for you'), but 同埋 (tung4 maai4) only means 'and' or 'with'. You cannot use 同埋 for benefactive 'for' or recipient 'to'.

  • Using 同埋 when you mean 'and then'.

    Different Meaning我去食飯，同埋去睇戲。
    我去食飯，跟住去睇戲。

    我去食飯，同埋去睇戲 is natural: it means 'I'm going to eat, and also go to a film', adding two things. For steps in order, use 跟住 (gan1 zyu6) or 然後 (jin4 hau6).

How It Connects

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同埋Level 1And (Joining Nouns)

Learn This First

To use '同埋' (and) effectively, you should first understand basic Cantonese word order and be familiar with common nouns or pronouns that you will be connecting in a list.

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