V+走

Take It Away

Level 3Sounds Like zau2

The pattern V + 走 (zau2) is used to show that an action results in something being 'gone' or 'away'. It is a common way to say 'takeaway' in a restaurant or to describe moving objects out of a space.

How It Works

The pattern V + 走 (zau2) focuses on the end state: the object is no longer here.

1. Usage with Verbs:
It typically attaches to verbs involving physical movement or taking, such as:

  • 拎 (ling1) - to take/carry
  • 賣 (maai6) - to sell (e.g., 賣走 maai6 zau2 - 'sell off')
  • 搬 (bun1) - to move/relocate
  • 抌 (dam2) - to throw away (more colloquial than 掉 deu6)
  • 趕 (gon2) - to drive away

2. Omission in Catering:
In food and drink contexts, 走 (zau2) means 'without' or 'omit'. This is essential for ordering in Hong Kong:

  • 走冰 (zau2 bing1) - no ice
  • 走糖 (zau2 tong4) - no sugar
  • 走奶 (zau2 naai5) - no milk
  • 走青 (zau2 cing1) - no 'green' (spring onions/coriander)

3. Potential Form:
To say something cannot be moved or removed, use the potential complement structure: V + 唔 + 走. For example, 搬唔走 (bun1 m4 zau2) means 'cannot move (it) away'.

4. Word Order:
The object typically follows the entire compound: V + 走 + Object. If the action is completed, the perfective aspect marker 咗 (zo2) follows the complement: V + 走 + 咗 (e.g., 拎走咗 ling1 zau2 zo2 - 'taken away').

5. Restaurant Context:
This is a common way to order food 'to go'. You can say 拎走 (ling1 zau2) to indicate you are taking the meal with you.

Examples (5)

  1. 唔該，呢個餐我要拎走。

    Excuse me, I'd like to take this meal away (takeaway).

    Word by Word: Excuse me, this [classifier] meal I want carry away.

    拎走 (ling1 zau2) is the standard phrase for 'takeaway' or 'to go' in a restaurant. You might also hear the slang 行街 (haang4 gaai1) used for takeout.

  2. 凍奶茶，唔該走冰。

    Iced milk tea, no ice please.

    Word by Word: Cold milk tea, please omit ice.

    In catering, 走 (zau2) means 'without' or 'omit'. Common examples include 走冰 (zau2 bing1 - no ice) and 走青 (zau2 cing1 - no spring onions/coriander).

  3. 佢已經賣走咗架車。

    He has already sold off the car.

    Word by Word: He already sell away [perfective] [classifier] car.

    賣走 (maai6 zau2) is a high-frequency term meaning to 'sell off' or 'sell away' assets or possessions.

  4. 呢張床太重，我搬唔走。

    This bed is too heavy; I can't move it away.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] bed too heavy, I move not away.

    This uses the negative potential complement form (V + 唔 + 走) to show that something cannot be moved or removed.

  5. 快啲將啲垃圾抌走佢啦！

    Hurry up and throw that trash away!

    Word by Word: Fast a bit [disposal] [plural] trash throw away it [particle]!

    While 掉 (deu6) is common, 抌走 (dam2 zau2) is a very natural colloquial way to say 'throw away' in Hong Kong. This uses the disposal construction.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 咗 (zo2) when you mean 'take away'.

    Different Meaning我拎咗呢件衫。
    我拎走呢件衫。

    我拎咗呢件衫 is a normal sentence meaning 'I took this shirt'. 拎走 (ling1 zau2) adds the idea of taking it away. Do not mix up 咗 (zo2) and 走 (zau2).

  • Using 走 (zau2) to mean 'walk away' like in Mandarin.

    佢行走咗。
    佢行開咗。

    行走 (haang4 zau2) is mostly a written word for 'walk', so 佢行走咗 sounds like writing. To say someone walked away or stepped aside, use 行開 (haang4 hoi1). 走 does follow other verbs for people (逃走, 跑走), so the problem is 行走, not 走 itself.

How It Connects

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V+走Level 3Take It Away

Learn This First

To understand 'V+走', you need to be familiar with how Cantonese uses verbal particles to indicate the result or direction of an action. Specifically, you should understand the basic structure of resultative verb compounds and how particles like '開' (away) or '去' (go) function to show movement away from the current scene.

Words in This Pattern