dak6 bit6 si6特別是特别是
Jyutpingdak6 bit6 si6
Yaledahk biht sih
Definition
Especially; particularly.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Although the headword is written as 特別是 in formal contexts, it is almost exclusively pronounced and written as 特別係 in spoken Cantonese. It functions as a conjunction to highlight a specific item within a larger group. Using the formal Mandarin-style character 是 instead of 係 will sound unnatural and overly stiff in daily conversation.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 特別係 to mean 'very special' because of the word 特別. Remember that it acts as a connector meaning 'in particular' or 'specifically', not as an adjective describing a noun.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
