jam6恁
Jyutpingjam6
Yaleyahm
Definition
To think, or to be like this; also used as an interrogative meaning which.
- to think; to believe
- like this; so
- which
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is primarily used in written Cantonese to represent the colloquial term for 'like this' or 'in this manner'. It is rarely used in spoken speech, where speakers prefer 咁樣 or 噉樣 instead. While it appears in literature or formal writing, it is considered a non-standard or archaic way to write the sound commonly heard as gam2 joeng2.
Examples
Do you have some misunderstanding thinking like this?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage of 恁, which can mean 'so' or 'very' in northern dialects. In Cantonese, it is strictly a written substitute for 咁樣 and should not be used to mean 'very' or 'so' as an intensifier.
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.
