用...嚟...

Use X to Do Y

Level 3

Subject + 用 (jung6) + [Tool/Means] + 嚟 (lai4) + [Action]

How It Works

The 用...嚟... (jung6... lai4...) construction is a fundamental serial verb pattern in spoken Cantonese.

1. Structure:
The sentence starts with the subject, followed by the verb 用 (jung6, 'to use'), then the object being used (the tool), and finally 嚟 (lai4, 'for/in order to') followed by the intended action.

2. The Role of 嚟 (lai4/lei4):
In this context, 嚟 functions as a purposive marker. While written as lai4, it is very frequently pronounced as lei4 in natural speech. Including it makes your Cantonese sound much more natural and explicitly links the tool to the goal.

3. Colloquial Alternative: 攞 (lo2):
In casual conversation, speakers often substitute 用 (jung6, 'to use') with 攞 (lo2, 'to take'). For example: 攞呢把刀嚟切肉 (lo2 nei1 baa2 dou1 lei4 cit3 juk6) — "Take this knife to cut meat."

4. Negation:
To negate this pattern, place the negative particle (like 唔 or 冇) directly before the first verb. For example: 唔用呢支筆嚟寫字 (m4 jung6 nei1 zi1 bat1 lei4 se2 zi6) — "(I) don't use this pen to write."

5. Abstract Usage:
Beyond physical tools, this pattern can be used for abstract concepts like time (時間 si4 gaan3) or money (錢 cin2).

Examples (5)

  1. 我用部電腦嚟做功課。

    I use the computer to do homework.

    Word by Word: I use [classifier] computer for do homework.

    Here, the computer is the tool, and doing homework is the purpose.

  2. 呢啲錢係用嚟交租㗎。

    This money is used for paying rent.

    Word by Word: This [plural] money is use for pay rent [particle].

    In this example, '用嚟' (jung6 lai4) acts almost like a compound meaning 'used for' or 'intended for'.

  3. 佢用手嚟遮住個太陽。

    He used his hands to block the sun.

    Word by Word: He use hand for cover [continuous] [classifier] sun.

    This shows a physical action where the hands are the instrument.

  4. 你用乜嘢嚟切蛋糕呀？

    What are you using to cut the cake?

    Word by Word: You use what for cut cake [question particle]?

    This demonstrates how to ask a question about the instrument being used.

  5. 我哋可以用時間嚟證明一切。

    We can use time to prove everything.

    Word by Word: We can use time for prove all.

    An example of using the pattern with an abstract concept (time) rather than a physical tool.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing the negation before the second verb instead of before the first verb.

    我用呢把刀唔嚟切肉。
    我唔用呢把刀嚟切肉。

    In Cantonese serial verb constructions like this, the negation (such as 唔 m4 or 冇 mou5) must be placed before the first verb 用 jung6, not the purpose marker 嚟 lai4.

  • Mixing up 嚟 (lai4) and 去 (heoi3) as the purpose marker.

    Different Meaning我用筆去寫字。
    我用筆嚟寫字。

    用筆去寫字 is understandable, and 用…去… is also heard, especially for longer tasks (用呢個方法去解決). The usual spoken frame for 'use X to do Y' is 用 X 嚟 V, as in 嚟 lai4 用筆嚟寫字, so prefer 嚟.

  • Confusing 'used to' (habitual) with 'use... to'.

    我用嚟食煙。
    我以前食煙。

    The English phrase 'I used to smoke' refers to a past habit. In Cantonese, this is expressed with 以前 (ji5 cin4, 'before') or aspect markers, not the verb 用 jung6.

How It Connects

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

用...嚟...Level 3Use X to Do Y

Learn This First

To understand '用...嚟...', you first need to know how to use '用' to introduce a tool and how '嚟' functions to connect a purpose or action to that tool. Familiarity with classifiers is also necessary as tools are almost always introduced with their specific measure words.

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