haa6 heoi3下去
Jyutpinghaa6 heoi3
Yalehah heui
Definition
Directional or aspectual verb suffix indicating downward motion or the continuation of an action.
- downward; toward a lower or farther position
- to go on; to continue doing something
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
In Cantonese, the directional complement is typically realized as 落去 rather than the Mandarin 下去. It serves both literal spatial functions, such as moving to a lower level, and abstract aspectual functions, indicating the continuation of an action over time. When used for continuation, it often implies a sense of persistence or moving forward with a task.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 下去 in spoken Cantonese, which sounds unnatural or overly formal. Always prefer 落去 when speaking to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
