gaa2 si2假使
Jyutpinggaa2 si2
Yalegá sí
Definition
If; in case; in the event that.
neutralother
How it's used
While grammatically interchangeable with 如果, this term carries a slightly more formal or hypothetical tone. It is often used in conditional statements that explore a specific, perhaps less likely, scenario. You will hear it more frequently in written contexts or formal speech than in casual, rapid-fire conversation.
Examples
If it rains tomorrow, we won't go hiking.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often overuse this in everyday speech where 如果 or 萬一 would sound more natural. It is not a direct replacement for every instance of 'if', especially when expressing simple, direct conditions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
