gei2 do1幾多几多
Jyutpinggei2 do1
Yalegéi dō
Definition
How many or how much; used to ask about quantity, number, or time.
colloquialnumbersmoney
How it's used
Distinguishing between 幾多 and 幾 is essential for natural speech. While 幾 is often used for small, indefinite amounts, 幾多 is the standard way to ask for a specific quantity or price. Unlike Mandarin, where 多少 is common, Cantonese speakers almost exclusively use 幾多 in daily interactions.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 幾多 to mean 'some' or 'a few' as in Mandarin, but in Cantonese, 幾多 is strictly an interrogative pronoun. To express 'a few' or 'some', use 幾 instead.
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.
