han2很
Definition
An default adverb placed before a predicate adjective that does not carry any special meaning of "very".
How it's used
Cantonese speakers use 好 as the default intensifier for adjectives, functioning similarly to how Mandarin speakers use 很. Unlike Mandarin, where 很 can sometimes be omitted in simple predicative constructions, Cantonese almost always requires 好 to sound natural and complete. It is so pervasive that it has largely lost its literal meaning of 'very' and acts more like a grammatical link between the subject and the adjective.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 很 in Cantonese because of their Mandarin background, but 很 is not used in spoken Cantonese at all. Using 很 will make your speech sound unnatural or overly formal, as it is strictly a written or Mandarin-influenced term.
Grammar color guide
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.
